The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) held its 58th session from 6-10 October 2008, in London, UK.

During the meeting, the Committee made progress on, inter alia: harmful emissions from ships; environmentally-friendly recycling of ships; ballast water management; and greenhouse gas emissions from ships. The MEPC unanimously adopted amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex VI regulations to progressively reduce emissions of sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter from ships. On recycling of ships, the MEPC conducted an article-by-article and regulation-by-regulation review of the draft new convention on this matter, which will be circulated for consideration and adoption by a diplomatic conference to be held in Hong Kong, China, from 11-15 May 2009. The Committee also adopted guidelines for ballast water sampling and revised guidelines for approval of ballast water management systems, aimed to assist in the effective implementation of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments. On greenhouse gases from ships, the MEPC maintained momentum on the issue and made substantive progress in developing technical and operational measures to address such emissions, including the development of an energy efficiency design index for new ships and an energy efficiency operational index, with associated guidelines for both; an efficiency management plan suitable for all ships; and a voluntary code on best practice in energy efficient ship operations.
Links to further information
IMO Press Release, 13 October 2008