The twelfth session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Air pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 12), held in London from January 27 to 31 January 2025, finalized steering on in-water cleansing of ships’ biofouling.
The steering is predicted to be permitted by MEPC 83 in April, says DNV. The steering contains voluntary procedures associated to planning, documentation, reporting and inspection when conducting in-water cleansing. It additionally contains really helpful practices for these jurisdictions that want to approve cleansing operations or people who need to take a look at and certify in-water cleansing methods (IWCS).
PPR 12 agreed that additional work is required to develop further steering on compatibility testing between the coating and IWCS, on strategies to evaluate the minimal efficiency normal for IWCS and on find out how to conduct inspections. Extra matters could also be related, as MEPC 83 will contemplate a brand new output on the potential growth of necessary necessities for biofouling administration.
DNV experiences that different assembly highlights included:
• Finalized a round on steering on in-water cleansing of ships’ biofouling
• Revised tips on certification of Selective Catalytic Discount (SCR) methods
• Agreed on an interim round permitting bunker ships licensed as oil tankers to hold biofuel blends containing as much as 30% biofuel
• Mentioned amendments to MARPOL Annex II on cargo tank stripping, tank washing operations, and prewash procedures
• Continued the revision of MARPOL Annex IV on sewage therapy
• Reviewed the Motion Plan to handle marine plastic litter from ships
• Security and air pollution hazards of chemical substances and preparation of amendments to the IBC Code
• Carriage of biofuel blends on bunker ships.
