Nicosia, Cyprus. The Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry welcomed the conclusion of the 13th International Maritime Organisation (IMO) sub-committee session on pollution. Officials described the negotiations as a collective effort reflecting Cyprus’ commitment to international maritime standards.
Call to move from regulation to implementation
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez opened the meeting, held on February 9-13, 2026, urging governments to translate regulation into real-world implementation. He said the 2026-2027 World Maritime Day theme, ‘From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence’, reflects a push to ensure IMO rules become national law and daily operational practice.
Focus on practical environmental standards under MARPOL
Dominguez said the PPR sub-committee plays a central role in turning environmental commitments into practical standards. He said the session should aim to finalise revised guidelines under MARPOL Annex I covering systems for handling oily waste in machinery spaces and the associated regulations.
Under MARPOL Annex II, he said work will continue assessing safety and pollution risks of chemicals transported in bulk. For MARPOL Annex IV, he said revisions are progressing to introduce measures ensuring the lifetime performance of sewage treatment plants.
Marine litter, emissions and Arctic concerns
Dominguez said efforts addressing marine plastic litter remain a priority under MARPOL Annex V. Under Annex VI, he said the committee will begin reviewing the NOx emission control and compliance framework and consider black carbon emissions in the Arctic, as well as discharge water from exhaust gas cleaning systems.
Work launched on legally binding biofouling framework
Dominguez said the session launches work on a legally binding framework for controlling and managing ships’ biofouling, building on the 2023 Biofouling Guidelines and recently approved guidance on in-water cleaning.
What impact do you think turning IMO rules into national law will have on day-to-day shipping operations?
