THE AUSTRALIAN Maritime Safety Authority will take part in an International Maritime Organization meeting this week to address the contribution vessels make to plastic waste at sea.
AMSA’s participation in this year’s meeting of the IMO Pollution Prevention and Response Sub-Committee aligns with Australia’s position on a coalition against plastic pollution.
Australia in November last year joined the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution by 2040, a group comprising 51 countries.
AMSA said Australia is committed to achieving the coalition’s 2040 ambition and to global action that addresses the contribution vessels make to marine plastic litter.
AMSA said at the upcoming IMO sub-committee meeting it will present Australia’s positions on the further consideration of measures to reduce marine plastic litter from ships, including requirements for transporting plastic pellets by ship.
It also plans to present Australia’s views on requiring certain types of fishing gear to be marked, and on requiring operators to report fishing gear that has been lost or discharged at sea.
“Australia looks forward to actively participating in these discussions so that practical measures can be developed to address vessel contributions to the global issue of marine plastic litter,” AMSA said.
“Australia strongly supports the work of the IMO to address marine plastic litter from ships and is willing to assist in achieving positive outcomes wherever possible, including through chairing a working group, which is expected to be established during the meeting, to discuss and develop the details of these measures.”
The IMO Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response deals with matters relating to pollution prevention and response that falls within IMO’s remit.
IMO said this ranges from all annexes of the MARPOL Convention through to the control and management of harmful aquatic organisms in ships’ ballast water and sediments.
It also addresses biofouling; anti-fouling systems; pollution preparedness, response and co-operation for oil and hazardous and noxious substances; and the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships.
