The twelfth session of the IMO The Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) took place 27 – 31 January 2025 in London, where key matters regarding the prevention of marine pollution were discussed.
The Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) deals with all matters relating to pollution prevention and response which falls within IMO’s remit. This ranges from all annexes of the MARPOL Convention through to the control and management of harmful aquatic organisms in ships’ ballast water and sediments; biofouling; anti-fouling system; pollution preparedness, response and cooperation for oil and hazardous and noxious substances; and the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships.
Lloyd’s Register (LR) has issued a publication detailing the matters discussed during the Sub-Committee session. According to LR, key outcomes from PPR 12 include:
- PPR concurred with MEPC.2/Circ.30 on Provisional Categorization of Liquid Substances in Accordance with MARPOL Annex II and the IBC Code prepared by the ESPH Technical Group issued in December 2024.
- Agreement to Interim Guidance on the carriage of blends of biofuels and MARPOL Annex I cargoes by conventional bunker ships, expected to be approved by MEPC 83 in April 2025.
- Development and finalization of the draft Guidance on the in-water cleaning of ships’ biofouling, now to be sent to MEPC 83 for anticipated adoption.
- Approval of draft 2025 Guidelines on Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) Systems, expected to be adopted by MEPC 83 in April 2025.
- Development and finalization of the draft 2025 Action Plan to address marine plastic litter from ships, and a revised grouping and prioritization of actions, updating annex 1 of MEPC.341(77) Strategy to address marine plastic litter from ships. Both the draft 2025 Action Plan and revised annex 1 of MEPC.341(77) will be sent to MEPC 83 for respective adoption and approval.
- Approval of draft amendments to Appendix 6 of MEPC.379(80) 2023 Guidelines for the development of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials, reflecting different cybutryne threshold for wet paints versus hull samples.
