IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee Meeting 82 Report

ICHCA member James Hookham has provided the attached report of the IMO’s 82nd Marine Environment Protection Committee Meeting (MEPC 82).

The two topics that were progressed at the meeting and most likely to be most interest to the majority of members were: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and loss of plastic pellets from ships when carried as cargo:

Greenhouse gas emissions measures
• Impact Assessment on ship operating costs and GDP of trading nations, including estimated increases in shipping costs and time through to 2050.
• Global Fuel Standard – how individual ships’ GHG emissions will be assessed for the fuel levy/carbon tax
• Economic measures – how the levy will work, who will pay what and when
• The “IMO Net Zero Framework” – new binding Chapter 5 in Annex VI of MARPOL and an implementation timeline to 2027

Loss of plastic pellets (see MV X-Press Pearl May 2021)
• MEPC.1/Circular 109 24 April 2024 – Recommendations for the carriage of plastic pellets by sea in freight containers (package correctly, notify in cargo documentation, stow under deck wherever reasonably practicable; or inboard in sheltered areas of exposed decks)
• Progress on the development of legal instruments
Thanks to James for all of the work involved in attending and in preparing the report for members.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REPORT