Including adopted amendments entering into force on or after 1 April 2024, requirements which have entered force but are phasing in for some ships, and significant developments up to and including the Marine Environment and Protection Committee (MEPC 81) in March 2024.

Summary of major developments:
New approvals or adoptions

  • Adopted amendments to regulations A-1 and B-2 of the BWM Convention on the use of electronic record books.
  • Adopted amendment to Protocol I of MARPOL Article V on reporting lost containers.
  • Adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, regulations 2, 14, 18 and Appendix I (Non-applicability of fuel oil sampling for low-flashpoint and gas fuels, etc.).
  • Adopted amendments to regulation 13.2.2 of MARPOL Annex VI on a marine diesel engine replacing a steam system.
  • Adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex VI regulation 27 and Appendix IX on IMO DCS.
  • Approval of a Canadian Arctic ECA.
  • Approval of a Norwegian Sea ECA. 

Significant new items being considered or milestones in ongoing development

  • A basket of candidate GHG Mid-Term Measures is being considered.
  • The Cape Town Agreement has reached the entry-into-force threshold for the number of ratifying States, but hasn’t yet reached the aggregate number of fishing vessels threshold.
  • Proposed amendments to the Ballast Water Management Convention.
  • The review of the STCW Convention.
  • Development of amendments to SOLAS chapter II-2 and the FSS Code concerning detection and control of fires in cargo holds and on the cargo deck of containerships.
  • Development of a goal-based instrument for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS).

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