The Valletta-based Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea recently organised a workshop on the ratification and implementation of an important document on the prevention of pollution from ships.

Held in Athens, the workshop aimed to raise awareness among government officials from Mediterranean coastal states about the new revised MARPOL Annex VI, which entered into force on July 1.

Annex VI limits the main air pollutants contained in ships’ exhaust gas, and prohibits deliberate emissions of ozone-depleting substances. Any lack of certification or failure in demonstrating the necessary compliance with Annex VI can effectively impede a ship from international trade.

Organised within the framework of the European Union-funded project known as SafeMed II, implemented by REMPEC, the workshop saw participants from 18 contracting parties to the Barcelona Convention: Croatia, Cyprus, the European Commission, Greece, Malta, Slovenia, Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Montenegro, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.

The workshop, chaired and facilitated by Robin Meech, an expert on MARPOL Annex VI, was addressed by expert speakers.

Representatives from the International Maritime Organisation, the European Commission, the European Petroleum Industry Association, the Transport and Environment Organisation, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems Association delivered presentations to more than 40 participants.