Arctic Pollution Prevention Guidelines Finalized by IMO

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently held the Pollution Prevention and Response Sub-Committee PPR 11 from February 19-23, where an agreement was reached on guidance for preventing pollution in the Arctic marine environment.

The guidance that was agreed upon at PPR 11 will now be presented to the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). Lloyd’s Register reported the following outcomes from PPR 11:

– Draft guidance on best practices for goal-based control measures to reduce the impact of black carbon emissions from international shipping in the Arctic. This draft is expected to be approved at MEPC 82 in October 2024.
– Draft guidelines on black carbon emission measurement, monitoring, and reporting. This draft is also expected to be approved at MEPC 82 in October 2024.
– Draft guidelines on mitigation measures to reduce the risks associated with the use and carriage of HFO as fuel by ships in Arctic waters. These guidelines are expected to be finalized in October 2024, with an invitation to Member States to use them early.

These developments are crucial for the protection of the fragile Arctic marine environment and showcase the IMO’s commitment to addressing pollution from international shipping.