Combating Marine Litter
The effective implementation of IMO garbage regulations (MARPOL Annex V) on ships and in port reception facilities was the main focus of an IMO regional workshop on marine litter for the East Asian seas region, held in Jeju, Republic of Korea (5-8 December).
(The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), at its 55th session in October 2006, established an intersessional correspondence group to develop a framework for a comprehensive review of MARPOL Annex V). Garbage from ships can be just as deadly to marine life as oil or chemicals.
Participants shared experiences of implementing marine litter requirements. Site visits included the waste oil disposal facility and clean-up vessel operated by the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation (KOEM), which hosted the workshop.
The event was also aimed at supporting the implementation of the Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter under the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA RAP-MALI).
Participants came from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. IMO’s Jun Sun provided an update on MARPOL Annex V requirements.