Report of PPR 9 - 4 to 8 April 2022

The ninth session of the Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 9) was held remotely from 4 to 8 April 2022.

One of the main decision taken by PPR 9 is the agreement to draft amendments to MARPOL Annex V to extend the mandatory requirement Garbage Record Books from ships of 400 gross tonnage and above to ships of 100 gross tonnage and above (item15).

PPR 9 also discussed a number of submissions related to the transport of plastic pellets by sea. It has instructed the Correspondence Group on Marine Plastic Litter from Ships to further consider the options for reducing the environmental risk associated with the maritime transport of plastic pellets and advise the Sub-Committee on the way forward.

PPR 9 also agreed related draft amendments to the 2012 Guidelines for the development of a regional reception facility plan (resolution MEPC.221(63)). States which are a Party to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from ships (MARPOL) are required to provide adequate port reception facilities to receive operational waste from ships (item 13). The regulations currently allow for regional arrangements, where it may be more difficult for individual States to provide adequate reception facilities.

To support the development of such regional arrangements in the Arctic, and ensure waste is not discharged at sea, PPR 9 agreed draft amendments to the MARPOL annexes to allow States with ports in the Arctic region to enter into regional arrangements for port reception facilities.

The draft amendments to MARPOL Annexes I (oil), II (noxious liquid substances), IV (sewage), V (garbage) and VI (air pollution) will be forwarded to MEPC 78 for consideration for approval and subsequent adoption.

PPR pursued its discussions on the evaluation and harmonization of rules and guidance on the discharge of discharge water from exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) into the aquatic environment (item 10).

It agreed, for approval by MEPC 78:

• draft MEPC Circular on 2022 Guidelines for risk and impact assessments of the discharge water from exhaust gas cleaning systems, to provide information on recommended methodology for risk and impact assessments that Member States should follow when considering local or regional regulations to protect the sensitive waters/environment from the discharge water from EGCS.
• draft MEPC Circular on 2022 Guidance regarding the delivery of EGCS residues and stored discharge water to port reception facilities, providing best practices intended to assist both ship operators and port States in assuring the proper management and disposal of EGCS residues and stored discharge water from EGCSs into port reception facilities.

The MEPC at its 77th session  in 2021 adopted a resolution which urges Member States and ship operators to voluntarily use distillate or other cleaner alternative fuels or methods of propulsion that are safe for ships and could contribute to the reduction of Black Carbon emissions from ships when operating in or near the Arctic (item 8). The resolution encourages Member States to commence addressing the threat to the Arctic from Black Carbon emissions, and report on measures and best practices to reduce Black Carbon emissions from shipping.

PPR 9 instructed the Correspondence Group on Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships, to:

• develop draft guidelines on recommendatory goal-based control measures to reduce the impact on the Arctic of Black Carbon emissions from international shipping, recognizing possible different approaches for new and in-service ships;
• review existing data on the recommended Black Carbon measurement methods (FSN, PAS, LII) to be used in conjunction with such draft recommendatory goal-based control measures with a view to: identifying the most suitable measurement method(s) to be followed; and identifying the related sampling, measurement, reporting and calibration procedures;
• identify how to develop and apply potential threshold (limit) value(s) for Black Carbon;
• further consider regulating or otherwise directly control Black Carbon emissions from marine diesel engines (exhaust gas) to reduce the impact on the Arctic of Black Carbon emissions from international shipping, taking into account the identified candidate control measures, other relevant documents and views expressed.

PPR 9 has also finalized the draft text of revised guidelines to support implementation of the AFS Convention, following the adoption, in 2021, of amendments to include controls on the biocide cybutryne (item 6).

The draft amendments relate to:

• Guidelines for brief sampling of anti-fouling systems on ships;
• Guidelines for inspection of anti-fouling systems on ships; and
• Guidelines for survey and certification of anti-fouling systems on ships.

The Sub-Committee agreed the draft revised Guidance on methodologies that may be used for enumerating viable organisms for type approval of ballast water management systems, with a view to approval at MEPC 78 and dissemination as BWM.2/Circ.61/Rev.1 (item 5).

The Sub-Committee agreed to the following draft unified interpretations for approval by MEPC 78 (item 16):

• a draft unified interpretation of appendix I to the BWM Convention (Form of International Ballast Water Management Certificate), concerning the principal ballast water management method(s) employed on the ship; and
• a draft unified interpretation on the application of regulation 18.3 MARPOL Annex VI to biofuels.

The Sub-Committee also agreed to a draft amendment to the existing unified interpretation of paragraph 4.4.6.1 of the NOx Technical Code 2008, to make the interpretation (see MEPC.1/Circ.895) applicable to the "Engine Family" concept under certain circumstances .