MARPOL Annex VI Experts Workshop
A MARPOL Annex VI Experts Workshop was held on 2 – 5 February 2021 to develop a common strategy and operational procedures on MARPOL Annex VI monitoring activities in the Bonn Agreement area.
More than 60 experts from Bonn Contracting Parties joined the Workshop together with the Chair of the North Sea Network and representatives from other regional agreements. The plenary session was chaired by Ronny Schallier from Belgium and four parallel breakout groups were organised to discuss the legal, operational and scientific issues relating to the monitoring and enforcement of MARPOL Annex VI.
The use of the different platforms and sensors to monitor SOx and NOx emissions from vessels was considered along with regional monitoring programs and using EMSA assets to boost regional cooperation.
The Workshop concluded on a set of recommendations to be further explored through a Strategic and Operational Working Group and a Technical Working Group under the umbrella of the Working Group on Operational, Technical and Scientific Questions Concerning Counter-Pollution Activities (OTSOPA).
This Workshop can be considered a successful kickoff to address cooperation on surveillance for air emissions from shipping with respect to the requirements of MARPOL Annex VI.
