​Boost for IMO-led REMPEC Mediterranean marine pollution response centre

Mediterranean coastal states have agreed to increase resources for the IMO-administered Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC), which assists Mediterranean coastal states to build national capacities to prevent marine pollution from ships and act in the event of major incidents.

Parties to the Barcelona Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean, meeting in Naples, Italy (2-5 December), recognised increased workload and new environmental issues (such as air pollution) assigned to REMPEC and the other five regional activity centres. The centres have been established under the Mediterranean Action Plan to support environmental protection of the Mediterranean Sea.

The meeting agreed to new standards and guidelines which have been developed by REMPEC. These include: standards and guidelines under the Offshore Protocol, which aims at protecting against pollution from offshore activities; and guidelines on port reception facilities (Guidelines on the Provision of Reception Facilities in Ports and the Delivery of Ship-Generated Wastes and the Application of Charges at Reasonable Costs for the Use of Port Reception Facilities).

The Mediterranean States also adopted a roadmap towards the possible future designation of the Mediterranean Sea as a sulphur oxides (SO_x) Emission Control Area under the IMO regulations for prevention of air pollution from ships (MARPOL Annex VI). A new global sulphur limit for sulphur in ships fuel oil comes into effect from 1 January 2020, cutting the limit for sulphur in ships' fuel oil to 0.50% from 3.50% - but in emission control areas, the limit is even lower, at 0.10%.

IMO and REMPEC were represented at the 21st Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (COP 21), which brought together more than 350 delegates from the 21 Mediterranean coastal states. In a video message, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim stressed the importance placed on IMO’s longstanding cooperation with UN Environment in working towards the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to sustainable oceans and seas.