IMO NEWS - IMO Strategy to Address Marine Plastic Litter from Ships Explained
Read it here: STRATEGY TO ADDRESS MARINE PLASTIC LITTER FROM SHIPS
MARPOL Annex V leisure marine compliance
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has just published its Strategy to Address Marine Plastic Litter from Ships, reinforcing global efforts to reduce plastic pollution entering the sea from vessels.
The strategy builds on MARPOL Annex V and ultimately aims to achieve zero plastic waste discharges to sea from ships.
One important point highlighted in the document is that while the regulatory framework already exists, discharges of garbage including plastics still occur, meaning awareness and compliance remain a challenge.
This is something we have been examining closely in the leisure marine sector.
Under MARPOL Annex V, cleaning products discharged into the sea are classified as garbage if they are harmful to the marine environment (HME).
In simple terms this means products used around the water should be non-HME if discharge is to be legal, yet awareness of this requirement across marinas and boatyards remains surprisingly low.
Encouragingly the IMO strategy emphasises better understanding of the regulatory framework, improved awareness and stronger implementation.
The regulation already exists, the next step is helping the industry to understand it.
