IMO Briefing 50/2008

11 November 2008

30th Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (London Convention) and 3rd meeting of Contracting Parties to the 1996 Protocol thereto (London Protocol): 27 - 31 October 2008

Ocean fertilization operations should be allowed only for research, say Parties to international treaties

Ocean fertilization activities, other than legitimate scientific research, should not be allowed, according to a resolution adopted by Parties to the international treaties which regulate the dumping of wastes and other matter at sea.

"Given the present state of knowledge, ocean fertilization activities other than legitimate scientific research should not be allowed," says the (non-binding) resolution, adopted by the Contracting Parties to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (London Convention) and to the 1996 Protocol thereto (London Protocol), which met in London from 27 to 31 October 2008 (LC30/LP3).

The resolution followed previous discussions by Parties to the two treaties on planned operations for large-scale fertilization of the oceans using micro-nutrients - for example, iron - to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2). The resolution states that ocean fertilization activities other than legitimate scientific research, "should be considered as contrary to the aims of the Convention and Protocol and not currently qualify for any exemption from the definition of dumping".

In the resolution, Parties agreed that scientific research proposals should be assessed on a case-by-case basis using an assessment framework to be developed by the Scientific Groups under the London Convention and Protocol. Until specific guidance is available, Parties should be urged to use utmost caution and the best available guidance to evaluate scientific research proposals to ensure protection of the marine environment consistent with the Convention and Protocol. Parties agreed to consider further a potential legally binding resolution or amendment to the London Protocol at their next session in 2009.

Guidelines for the Assessment of Wastes and Other Matter In other work, the meetings completed Revised Generic Guidelines for the Assessment of Wastes and Other Matter, replacing the 1997 Guidelines on the same issue. These guidelines are a key interpretation document for implementation of the London Convention and Protocol.

Assessment of Inert, Inorganic Geological Material The meetings also completed Revised Specific Guidelines for the Assessment of Inert, Inorganic Geological Material, replacing the 2000 Guidelines on the same issue. These guidelines also assist with the harmonized interpretation of the London Convention and Protocol requirements, for instance, when dealing with mine-tailings.

Guidelines for the Placement of Artificial Reefs LC/LP-UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) Guidelines for the Placement of Artificial Reefs were finalized, for publication in early 2009.

Advice to mariners on spoilt cargoes

Advice to mariners on how to deal responsibly with spoilt cargoes on board ships was completed. This advice, updating guidance published in 1998, has been developed in collaboration with the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and will now be reviewed by the MEPC in July 2009 with a view to its adoption. An outreach strategy has also been developed, with the aim of ensuring a greater uptake by the maritime community of the new advice.

This advice also feeds into the current review by the MEPC of MARPOL Annex V (regulating the discharge of garbage by ships), in view of the relationship between "garbage" and the management of spoilt cargoes.

Guidance on Removal of Anti-Fouling Coatings from Ships Guidance on Best Management Practices for Removal of Anti-Fouling Coatings from Ships, including TBT hull paints, was completed and will be forwarded to the MEPC for adoption in July 2009, with a recommendation to jointly distribute it to the maritime community for implementation. This advice is relevant for the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001, (AFS Convention), which entered into force in September 2008 and requires ships to either replace, or overcoat, any existing organotin-based anti fouling systems.

CO2 capture and storage

Following the entry into force in 2007 of amendments to the London Protocol relating to the control of CO2 capture and storage in sub-seabed geological formations, the meetings noted that, if a CO2 stream injected into a sub-seabed geological formation is expected to cross a jurisdictional boundary between two or more countries, regulators should take special care to notify and seek input from those countries before issuing a permit in order to ensure compliance with relevant regulations under the London Protocol.

Parties agreed that the London Protocol should not constitute a barrier to the transborder movement of CO2 streams and agreed to continue this discussion by correspondence, and consider the option of developing an amendment to Article 6 of the Protocol, which prohibits the export of wastes for dumping purposes, or an interpretative resolution, or a combination of the two.

Background on London Convention and London Protocol The London Convention was one of the first global conventions to protect the marine environment from human activities and has been in force since 1975. Its objective is to promote the effective control of all sources of marine pollution and to take all practicable steps to prevent pollution of the sea by dumping of wastes and other matter. The Convention permits dumping of wastes at sea, except for those materials on a banned list, which was extended in 1993. Currently, 85 States are Parties to this Convention.

In 1996, the London Protocol was adopted, to further modernize the Convention and, eventually, replace it. Under the Protocol, the precautionary approach is applied and all dumping is prohibited, except for possibly acceptable wastes on the so-called "reverse list". The Protocol entered into force on 24 March 2006 and there are currently 36 Parties to it.

Both the Convention and Protocol require Parties to issue permits for the dumping of wastes and other matter at sea.

Further information on the London Convention and Protocol can be found at http://www.londonconvention.org

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IMO - the International Maritime Organization - is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.

Web site: www.imo.org
http://www.londonconvention.org

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IMO - the International Maritime Organization - is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.

Web site: www.imo.org

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