Dr.G.R.Balakrishnan
Feb 19 2026
Trade Bodies (World Marine)
The International Maritime Organization's Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response held its 13th session at IMO Headquarters in London from 9 to 13 February 2026. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Anita Mäkinen of Finland
The Outcomes are summarised below
- 2026 Strategy and Action Plan on marine plastic litter agreed
- Development of a new Code on the transport of plastic pellets recommended
- Fishing gear marking systems to be promoted
- Groundwork laid for future legally binding framework on biofouling
- Amendments to the NOx Code finalized
- Unified interpretations agreed
- Draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI on volatile organic compounds agreed
- Discussions on black carbon emissions and polar fuels continue
- Ongoing work on Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems
- Amendments to MARPOL Annex IV on sewage management agreed in principle
- Amendments to MARPOL Annex I on disposing oily bilge water agreed
- Revised Guidelines for systems for handling oily wastes in machinery spaces of ships approved
- Revised guidance for recording operations in the Oil Record Book Part I approved
To read the meeting outcomes in detail , please click the following link