The Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 10) met from 24 to 28 April 2023. The session was chaired by Dr Flavio da Costa Fernandes from Brazil. The PPR Sub-Committee deals with pollution prevention and response within the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) remit. This ranges from all annexes of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) through to the control and management of harmful aquatic organisms in ships' ballast water and sediments; biofouling; antifouling systems; pollution preparedness, response and cooperation for oil and hazardous and noxious substances; and the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships. One of the key issues discussed at PPR 10 was marine litter.

Recommendations for maritime transport of plastic pellets

The risks to the marine environment from plastic pellets have been highlighted by incidents, including the X-Press Pearl in 2021, during which 11,000 tonnes of plastic pellets were spilt off the shore of Sri Lanka. 

The Sub-Committee agreed to a draft MEPC circular on recommendations for the carriage of plastic pellets by sea in freight containers. The draft text will be submitted to the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) in September for their input. 

The draft circular recommends that plastic pellets be packed in good quality packaging that is strong enough to withstand the shocks and loadings typically encountered during transport. Packaging should be constructed and closed to prevent any loss of contents caused under normal transport conditions by vibration or acceleration forces. 

According to the draft circular, transport information should identify those freight containers containing plastic pellets. In addition, the shipper should supplement the cargo information with a special stowage request. Freight containers containing plastic pellets should be properly stowed and secured to minimise the hazards to the marine environment without impairing the ship’s safety and the persons on board. Specifically, freight containers containing plastic pellets should be stowed: under deck wherever reasonably practicable; or inboard in sheltered areas of exposed decks.

Following review by the CCC Sub-Committee, the draft recommendations could be finalised by the next session of the PPR Sub-Committee (PPR 11 in 2024) and approved by MEPC 81 in spring 2024. 

The Sub-Committee also agreed that plastic pellets should not be carried in bulk. Member States and international organisations were invited to submit proposals on potential regulatory changes that may be needed to prevent the shipment of plastic pellets in bulk.

IUMI was represented in the Correspondence Group on Marine Litter, which preceded PPR 10, by Jens Jaeger, Head of Marine & Aviation at the German Insurance Association (GDV) and a member of IUMI’s Policy Forum.

Preparedness and response to incidents involving plastic pellets

The Sub-Committee approved terms of reference for a correspondence group to develop a draft guide on the clean-up of plastic pellets from ship-source spills. A draft guide should be submitted to PPR 11 for consideration.