Secretary-General Sekimizu said that the latest measures to facilitate entry into force of the BWM Convention and more specifically, the ‘non-penalization’ provisions, together with the adoption of the port State control guidelines and the approval of 57 ballast water management systems, should prove enough to encourage ratification and global implementation of the Convention.

Speaking of the recent agreement to introduce a CO2 monitoring system for international ships that use EU ports, Sekimizu expressed concern that if such regional regulations would go beyond what IMO will adopt, and if implemented on foreign ships, they would undermine IMO’s role as the global standard setter.

MEPC 68 will run until May 15, and is expected to adopt the environmental provisions of the Polar Code. Other agenda items include: implementation of the ballast water management convention and energy-efficiency requirements and revisions to air pollution guidance and requirements.