MEPC 71 Kicks Off

IMO The 71st session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 71) has started at International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters in London. A key item on the agenda is the implementation of the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention which is scheduled to enter into force on September 8, 2017. The committee will consider draft amendments to the BWM Convention which will determine the implementation schedule for installations of ballast water management systems. Following the ratification by Greece on June 26, the convention has been ratified by 60 countries, representing 68.46% of world merchant shipping tonnage. What is more, the committee is set to address the prevention of atmospheric pollution from ships, including the reduction of GHG emissions and the implementation of the 0.50% global sulfur limit for sulfur in fuel oil used on board ships. The MEPC, being held from July 3 to 7, was opened by Secretary-General Kitack Lim and is being chaired by Arsenio Dominguez (Panama).