IMO issues PPR 11 report

The International Maritime Organization has issued a report of the eleventh session of the Pollution Prevention and Response Sub-Committee.

The report was issued on 8 May 2024.

SUMMARY
Executive summary: The Committee is invited to take action on matters emanating from PPR 11, other than the one urgent matter which was considered at MEPC 81.
Strategic direction, if applicable: As specified in documents considered by PPR 11
Output: As specified in documents considered by PPR 11
Action to be taken: Paragraph 3
Related documents: MEPC 81/16; PPR 11/18 and PPR 11/18/Add.1

General

1. The Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response held its eleventh session from 19 to 23 February 2024, and its report of that session has been issued as document PPR 11/18 and addendum.
2. The Committee, at its eighty-first session (18 to 22 March 2024), considered an urgent matter emanating from PPR 11 concerning the draft MEPC circular on Recommendations for the carriage of plastic pellets by sea in freight containers and took action as recorded in paragraphs 8.1 to 8.11 of its report (MEPC 81/16). The Committee, at this session, is invited to consider the remaining matters.

Action requested of the Committee

3. The Committee is invited to:.1 note that the report of GESAMP/EHS 60, together with the revised GESAMP Composite List, has been disseminated as PPR.1/Circ.13 (paragraph 3.2);.2 concur with the issuance of MEPC.2/Circ.29, published on 1 December 2023 (paragraphs 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.3.4 and 3.3.5), which:

.1 reflects the evaluation of products and cleaning additives carried out in 2023, and their respective inclusion in lists 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 of the circular; and

.2 includes a new paragraph in section 3 of the circular providing a link to a PDF file on the IMO website listing all products removed from lists 2 and 3;

.3 consider, with a view to approval, the draft MEPC circular on Revised tank cleaning additives guidance note and reporting form, and concur with the Sub-Committee's agreement to change to the structure of annex 10 of the MEPC.2/Circular (split into two lists, one for pure products and another with commercially-branded products that will have a seven-year expiry date) (paragraphs 3.4, 3.5 and annex 1);

.4 concur with the Sub-Committee's view that, following the approval of the Revised tank cleaning additives guidance note and reporting form, cleaning additives currently listed in annex 10 to the MEPC.2/Circular should be re-evaluated subject to a timeline to be developed by the Sub-Committee in due course (paragraph 3.6);

.5 consider the draft Guidance on best practice on recommendatory goal-based control measures to reduce the impact on the Arctic of Black Carbon emissions from international shipping and the associated draft MEPC resolution, with a view to adoption (paragraph 6.27 and annex 3);

.6 consider the draft Guidelines on recommendatory Black Carbon emission measurement, monitoring and reporting and the associated draft MEPC resolution, with a view to adoption (paragraph 6.29 and annex 4);

.7 note that the Sub-Committee invited ISO to consider the development of a Polar fuel standard which may include the hydrogen-to-carbon (H/C) ratio (paragraph 6.30);

.8 note that the Sub-Committee, having considered all submitted documents concerning the identification and development, as appropriate, of regulatory measures and instruments on the discharge of discharge water from EGCS (including documents that had been referred to it by the Committee, i.e. MEPC 79/5/4, MEPC 80/5/5, MEPC 80/5/6, MEPC 80/5/7, and MEPC 81/9), given the divergent views, invited interested Member States and international organizations to submit further proposals to PPR 12 on the matter (paragraphs 7.6 to 7.26);

.9 note that the Sub-Committee invited Member States to submit information on local/regional restrictions/conditions on the discharge water from EGCS using the "National Maritime Legislation" module of GISIS, and also invited the Secretariat to explore other reporting options in GISIS, such as in the MARPOL Annex VI module (paragraphs 7.31.2 and 7.31.3);

.10 note that, in relation to the development of representative emission factors for use in environmental risk assessments of EGCS discharge water, the Sub-Committee invited interested Member States and international organizations to:

.1 submit relevant data to a future session of the Sub-Committee (paragraph 7.40.1);

.2 submit proposals for terms of reference for the re-establishment of the GESAMP Task Team on EGCS to conduct further work on this matter to MEPC 82 (paragraph 7.40.2); and

.3 consider providing financial contributions to enable the re-establishment of the GESAMP Task Team on EGCS (paragraph 7.40.3);

.11 request the Secretariat to issue a corrigendum to document MEPC 77/16/Add.1 (Report of MEPC 77, addendum), to introduce the corrections agreed by the Sub-Committee to paragraphs 7.2.4 and 7.2.6 of the 2021 Guidelines for exhaust gas cleaning systems (resolution MEPC.340(77)) (paragraph 7.42);

.12 approve the draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI and the associated draft amendments to the NOx Technical Code 2008, concerning the use of multiple engine operational profiles for a marine diesel engine, including clarifying engine test cycles, with a view to subsequent adoption (paragraph 8.10 and annexes 5 and 6);

.13 approve the draft Guidelines for developing a local oil/hazardous and noxious substances marine pollution contingency plan, for subsequent publication (paragraph 9.10 and annex 7);

.14 approve the draft MEPC circular on Guidelines on mitigation measures to reduce risks of use and carriage for use of HFO as fuel by ships in Arctic waters (paragraph 10.17 and annex 8);

.15 note the work plan for the completion of output 1.26 on "Revision of MARPOL Annex IV and associated guidelines", which the Sub-Committee agreed to keep under review (paragraph 12.13 and annex 9);

.16 note the outcome of the Sub-Committee's consideration of documents concerning the development of amendments to appropriate mandatory instruments to address the environmental risk associated with the maritime transport of plastic pellets, including the Sub-Committee's agreement that, in light of the divergent views expressed, more time was required for consideration of the appropriate instruments that could form the legal basis for mandatory provisions (paragraphs 13.16 to 13.32);

.17 note that the Sub-Committee gave preliminary consideration to document MEPC 80/8 (Norway) in conjunction with a commenting document, and forwarded them to its next session for further consideration (paragraphs 13.67 and 13.68);

.18 approve the draft Guidelines on good practice relating to clean-up of plastic pellets from ship-source releases, for subsequent publication (paragraph 13.77 and annex 11);

.19 approve the biennial status report of the Sub-Committee for the current biennium and the provisional agenda for PPR 10 (paragraphs 15.3 and 15.8 and annexes 12 and 13, respectively);

.20 approve the holding of an intersessional meeting of the ESPH Technical Group in 2025 (paragraph 15.12);

.21 approve the draft amendments to the NOx Technical Code 2008 on certification of an engine subject to substantial modification, with a view to subsequent adoption (paragraph 17.5 and annex 14);

.22 note that the Sub-Committee, in the context of work on reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds, invited the SSE Sub-Committee to consider a requirement for new crude oil tankers to be fitted with P/V valves with an opening pressure of minimum 0.20 bar and identify any negative implications (paragraph 17.12); and

.23 approve the report in general.

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):

POLLUTION PREVENTION AND RESPONSE - Report of the eleventh session of the Sub-Committee