At the 82nd session of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 82), scheduled from September 30 to October 4, 2024, key issues concerning the environmental safety of shipping will be discussed. The focus will be on:
Vessel Carbon Intensity: The IMO will continue its efforts to enhance the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) calculation system and implement mid-term measures to reduce emissions.
Combatting Plastic Waste: The Committee will review the IMO's action plan to tackle plastic waste from ships and advance initiatives to mitigate the risks associated with the maritime transport of plastic pellets.
Ship Recycling: The IMO plans to approve a draft Guidance for the implementation of the Hong Kong and Basel Conventions regarding the transboundary movement of ships intended for recycling.
Hong Kong Convention: This document, designed to serve as the sole applicable framework for ship recycling, will enter into force next year.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has urged member states to ratify the Hong Kong Convention to enhance compliance with waste disposal regulations and prevent regional regulations that contradict global objectives.
It is important to note that as of January 1, 2023, CII requirements came into effect, mandating cargo ships to monitor their emissions and receive ratings from A to E. In 2024, shipping companies with vessels showing poor performance will be required to develop a modernization plan to reduce pollution levels.
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