IMO progresses work on ship emissions, pollution and ocean protection

The 84th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee was held at IMO headquarters in London from 27 April to 1 May 2026, chaired by Dr. Harry Conway of Liberia

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) concluded its 84th session on May 1, 2026, with delegates agreeing on a roadmap to finalize global shipping emission standards and establishing new environmental protections for the North-East Atlantic.

Following the conclusion of the meeting held from 27 April to 1 May 2026 in London, the Committee will resume its Second Extraordinary Session on Friday, 4 December 2026, subject to confirmation by the 85th session (MEPC 85), which is scheduled to convene from 30 November to 3 December.

Progress on Net-Zero Framework

The committee aimed to rebuild consensus on "mid-term measures" to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that the negotiations are "back on track," though he emphasized the need to rebuild trust among the nearly 100 delegations involved.

To resolve remaining disagreements, the Committee established an intersessional Working Group. This group will meet in September and November 2026 to refine the draft amendments before the 85th session (MEPC 85), scheduled for late November. Key technical work will include an expert workshop on "chain of custody" models to verify the origin and movement of marine fuels.

New North-East Atlantic Emission Control Area

The Committee officially adopted a new Emission Control Area (ECA) for the North-East Atlantic. Starting in 2028, ships operating in the exclusive economic zones of Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Portugal must follow stricter limits on nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter (PM).

Under these regulations, the sulphur content in fuel will be capped at 0.10%. The measure is intended to reduce respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in coastal populations and decrease environmental acidification.

Regional Security and Plastic Pollution

The MEPC adopted a resolution addressing the Strait of Hormuz, condemning attacks on commercial shipping due to the high risk of large-scale pollution from oil, missiles, and drones. The Secretary-General was tasked with monitoring the environmental impact in the Persian Gulf.

Regarding plastic waste, the Committee adopted the 2026 Strategy and Action Plan to Address Marine Plastic Litter from Ships. This updates previous frameworks and reaffirms the IMO’s goal of zero plastic waste discharge by 2030. Specific actions include:

• Developing a mandatory code for the maritime transport of plastic pellets in freight containers.
• Improving port reception facilities and waste processing.
• Implementing fishing gear marking systems to track abandoned equipment.

Ballast Water and Underwater Noise

The Committee approved amendments to the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention to close regulatory gaps identified during its implementation phase. It also extended the "experience-building phase" for underwater radiated noise (URN) guidelines until 2028. This extension allows for further study on how ship noise affects marine life before potential mandatory measures are introduced.

Future Work and Technical Studies

The session concluded with the approval of several technical initiatives:

• 5th IMO GHG Study: Terms of reference were approved to begin the procurement process for the next major emissions assessment.
• Autonomous Ships (MASS): New work was designated to address how autonomous vessels will comply with marine environmental regulations.
• Biofouling: The Committee agreed to develop a standalone, legally binding instrument to manage organisms attached to ship hulls to prevent the spread of invasive species.

The Committee is scheduled to resume discussions at MEPC 85 from November 30 to December 3, 2026, followed immediately by a Second Extraordinary Session on December 4.
Source: IMO