The Commission for the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution, which is an IMO observer and implementing partner for capacity-building activities in the Black Sea, held its 31st Regular Meeting of Commissioners in Istanbul, Turkey (8 October). The longstanding collaboration between IMO and the Black Sea Commission has encompassed a wide array of workshops and training courses, at both national and regional levels, to develop capacity for the implementation of various IMO instruments aimed at protecting the marine environment from any adverse effects of shipping. Such activities have covered the development of national and regional contingency plans to deal with pollution incidents, supporting the ratification and implementation of the Ballast Water Management convention and work on the harmonization of the Black Sea Dumping Protocol with the London Protocol, aimed at the protection of the Black Sea against pollution by dumping. IMO’s Ivaylo Valev participated in the meeting and pledged IMO’s continued support and commitment to working with Black Sea administrations and the Black Sea Commission.