IMO Secretary-General Sekimizu has opened the Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR), 2nd session (19-23 January), which is being chaired by Mr Sveinung Oftedal (Norway). Items on the agenda include technical work related to MARPOL Annex VI and the NOX Technical Code; development of the "Ballast Water Management – How to do it" manual; revision of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials, to support the Ship Recycling Convention; finalization of the draft Guidelines on international offers of assistance intended to provide guidance to States requesting and receiving emergency assistance during spill incidents; and developing a recommendation for a single definition of black carbon in relation to emissions from international shipping. (click here for photo gallery)