1.3 The Chairman of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), Mr. I.M. Ponomarev (Russian Federation); the Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases (BLG), Mr. Z. Alam (Singapore); and the Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers (DSC), Mrs. O.P. Lefevre (France); were also present.

　

　

1.4 In welcoming participants, the Secretary-General stated that the holding of this session of the Committee, outside the IMO Headquarters building, was a challenge and he sincerely hoped that the meeting at the Methodist Central Hall, which had hosted the inaugural session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1946, would be successful and enjoyable.

　

1.5 The Secretary-General then drew the Committee's attention to what had been reported as the worst oil spill ever suffered in the Mediterranean, which had arisen during the recent armed conflict in Lebanon and had resulted in an estimated 15,000 tonnes of oil escaping into the marine environment, affecting over 150 km of shoreline in Lebanon and Syria. In view of the severe environmental crisis, and conscious of the need to mitigate the spill's effect on human health and livelihoods, IMO had promptly initiated several actions, within the framework of UNCLOS and the OPRC and Barcelona Conventions, and mobilized the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC). Additionally, in response to a request for assistance by the Lebanese Government, IMO, together with UNEP and other organizations, had designed a plan to address the emergency and, spearheaded by REMPEC - in collaboration with the Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit, the European Commission, the oil industry and other partners - technical studies had been conducted and missions fielded to commence response activities.

　

1.6 Furthermore, a high-level co-ordination meeting had been convened in Piraeus, on 17 August 2006, co-chaired by the Secretary-General and his counterpart at UNEP, Executive Director Achim Steiner, which was attended by Ministers and senior representatives from the two affected countries (Lebanon and Syria) and the three countries at potential risk (Cyprus, Turkey and Greece), the European Commission and international organizations. The Meeting approved the Lebanon Marine and Coastal Oil Pollution International Assistance Action Plan; agreed on priorities that should be pursued for clean-up; reconfirmed and agreed on co-ordination structures; and identified possibilities for resource mobilization. The Secretary-General expressed appreciation to the Government of Greece for its prompt response in hosting the meeting and for the excellent facilities and hospitality provided.

　

1.7 IMO had subsequently assisted the Lebanese authorities to develop a US$50 million oil spill clean-up project - to help with the early recovery process and long-term reconstruction of the affected infrastructures - which was presented at a special donor meeting held in Sweden. The IMO Secretariat had since continued to assist in the response efforts, in particular with the deployment to Beirut of an IMO/REMPEC Co-ordination Adviser to help the Lebanese Ministry of Environment in the overall co-ordination and management of the oil spill response, and it was now concentrating on mobilizing the financial and in-kind resources needed to implement the agreed Action Plan. The Secretary-General thanked those countries and institutions that had provided or were about to provide assistance, through IMO or bilaterally (Canada, Cyprus, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Commission, Greenpeace and IUCN); and appealed to all other countries and institutions, which might be able to do so, to contribute generously to the Marine Pollution Response Fund established by IMO for that purpose.

　

1.8 The Secretary-General noted that, although the Lebanon oil spill was not shipping-related, IMO had decided to undertake a leading role in designing and facilitating the clean-up operation and the associated services, to demonstrate the Organization's sensitivity over the marine environment and its eagerness and preparedness to assist, in any way possible, in any effort to mitigate the damage that might be caused to it also by sources other than those emanating from shipping operations.

　

1.9 He went on to say that the oil spill in Lebanon and that caused by a small tanker, the SOLAR I, off the coast of the Philippines, served to illustrate vividly the importance of preparedness, response and co-operation, as enshrined in the 1990 OPRC Convention. It was only by being adequately prepared, with a periodically tried and tested national contingency plan in place and properly trained professionals at the ready, that a coastal State, in co-operation with neighbouring countries, would stand a chance of mitigating the potentially disastrous consequences of a major oil spill, whatever its origin.

　

1.10 Turning to the Committee's agenda, the Secretary-General stated that, in addition to IMO's more traditional efforts to prevent pollution by oil, chemicals, sewage and garbage from ships, current work to protect and preserve the marine environment focused principally on ship recycling, prevention of air pollution from ships and ballast water management, with a view to minimizing their damage to the atmosphere, human health and coastal and marine environments.

　

1.11 With respect to ship recycling, the Secretary-General noted that the Committee had been spearheading an inter-governmental effort for some time and was preparing the future International Convention on the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, which would not only take into account the characteristics of world maritime transport but also the need to ensure that ships reaching the end of their operational lives do so with maximum respect for the health and safety of those involved; the safety of the ships concerned; and the environment of the countries in which the recycling activities took place.

　

1.12 He also noted that, while these developments continued at IMO, there had been a few instances of ships destined for recycling that had faced difficulties, leaving their owners and the recycling yards in a situation of uncertainty. The Secretary-General stated that such events, and the overall need to remove uncertainties, underlined the importance and urgency of developing the draft Convention, and expressed confidence that, with the co-operation of all parties, the Committee would progress the work in time for the new instrument to be adopted during the 2008-2009 biennium, as requested by the Assembly. To that end, IMO would continue co-operating with ILO and the appropriate bodies of the Basel Convention so as not only to serve the purpose of the joint effort, in the best interests of all concerned, but also to avoid duplication of effort and overlapping of responsibilities and competencies among the three organizations.

　

1.13 On the subject of air pollution and the urgent issue of greenhouse gas emissions, the Secretary-General stated that recent research work showed that a significant share of ship emissions occurred along coastlines, travelling over much longer distances than previously realized, and this should galvanize a prompt reaction from the maritime community. He noted that the Committee would consider and, hopefully, finalize and approve washwater criteria from ship exhaust gas scrubbers, so that corresponding equipment could be accepted by port States internationally. In this respect, he recalled that resolution A.963(23), on IMO's policies and practices relative to greenhouse gas emissions from ships, urged the Committee to identify and develop mechanisms to limit or reduce such emissions, and expressed the hope that the Committee would now finalize and approve the related draft work plan developed at MEPC 54, bearing in mind that the benefits of such work to human and environmental health would be of incalculable value.

　

1.14 The Secretary-General stated that, while new initiatives leading to the adoption of new standards and regulations proceeded - such as those on ship recycling, greenhouse gas emissions and wreck removal - he was concerned at the slow pace of ratification of conventions already in place, which regulated equally important issues such as ships' anti-fouling systems, bunkers and the management of ballast water and sediments. He, therefore, invited delegations to exert whatever influence they could to have all of IMO's environment-related instruments ratified without further delay. In this regard, the Secretary-General's concerns were threefold:

　

1.15 For these and other reasons he encouraged early action on ratification so that the maritime community was not accused of neglecting its duty towards this beautiful planet, the preservation of which, for the benefit of future generations, was the undeniable responsibility of all.

　

1.16 Turning to the 2004 Ballast Water Management Convention, which, regrettably had not received any new ratifications since MEPC 54, the Secretary-General noted that the Committee, with support from the BLG and FSI Sub-Committees, had already adopted a comprehensive set of relevant technical guidelines and six new guidelines were expected to be adopted at this session. He noted further that the GESAMP-Ballast Water Working Group had held a second meeting this year, reviewing additional technologies involving Active Substances and continuing the development of the Methodology for information gathering and conduct of work. The Secretary-General thanked the Group for its tremendous efforts in taking this essential matter forward, and hoped that the Group's report would assist the Committee to take important decisions related to the Basic Approval of these technologies.

　

1.17 He also recalled that the Ballast Water Review Group had concluded that a variety of systems being tested on board ships had the potential to meet the criteria required by the BWM Convention and that it was reasonable to expect that ballast water management technologies would be available by the end of 2008. The Review Group, which would be reconvened at this session to evaluate the latest information on ballast water treatment technologies, would enable the Committee to devise an appropriate strategy towards early and effective implementation of the relevant requirements contained in the Convention.

　

1.18 The Secretary-General recalled that, at this session, the Committee would have the opportunity to agree on an Action Plan to tackle the inadequacy, worldwide, of port reception facilities. He hoped that the Action Plan, together with the outcome of the Committee's work on proposed regional arrangements, would, when implemented, become instrumental in improving the situation, thereby contributing to the effective implementation of the MARPOL Convention and promoting quality and environmental consciousness among administrations and shipping.

　

1.19 He then drew the Committee's attention to the increasing transport by sea of bio-fuels and bio-fuel blends as cargo, an activity which had not yet been properly regulated from the safety and environmental standpoints. The Committee's successful tackling of the issue would enable it, with appropriate advice from the BLG Sub-Committee, to decide on which MARPOL Annexes should be eventually amended and what related guidelines should be developed.

　

1.20 The Secretary-General also referred to the acknowledged need to find a long-term funding solution for the GESAMP Working Group on the Evaluation of the Hazards of Harmful Substances Carried by Ships, which might involve cargo interests, more specifically the manufacturers of the products who benefited from the Group's work. He hoped that a satisfactory solution would be found so that the Group could continue its valued work.

　

1.21 The Secretary-General recalled that the revised MARPOL Annex II, together with consequential amendments to the IBC Code, would enter into force on 1 January 2007 and that these measures would make a significant contribution to achieving the ultimate goal of a marine environment free of ship-sourced pollution. Noting that new amendments to the Code would be considered at this session, he stated that he was, again, encouraged by the proactive nature of this endeavour, which would allow new chemical products to be brought in line with the amended Code and permit them to be carried globally, safely and in an environmentally friendly manner.

　

1.22 He also stated that the adoption at this session of an amendment to MARPOL Annex I, to designate the Southern South African sea area as a Special Area, would provide a welcome measure to protect wildlife and the marine environment in an ecologically important region used intensively by shipping. He noted that the Committee was also invited to adopt amendments to MARPOL Annex III, on Regulations for the prevention of pollution by harmful substances carried by sea in packaged form, with a new revised text replacing the existing Annex in its entirety and ensuring the necessary linkage to the IMDG Code.

　

1.23 Turning to technical co-operation matters, the Secretary-General recalled that the theme for this year's World Maritime Day was "Technical Co-operation: IMO's response to the 2005 World Summit" and that this had been celebrated successfully in London and in a parallel event in Singapore. He noted the good progress made in the delivery of IMO projects related to marine environment protection, which had provided support on preparedness and response; development and updating of national, sub-regional and regional systems for co-operation; and preparation of contingency plans and related agreements. Other activities had aimed at promoting wider implementation and enforcement of the MARPOL Convention and associated Codes, as well as the London Convention and Protocol and the AFS and BWM Conventions. Additionally, the Secretariat had continued its role in supporting and backstopping the work of REMPEC and REMPEITC-Carib and in developing and implementing major projects such as the Marine Electronic Highway, SAFEMED, PEMSEA, the Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem Project and the GloBallast Partnerships Programme.

　

1.24 The Secretary-General then emphasized the importance of abiding by the security rules in place for IMO meetings, as set out in Circular letter No.2692 and over which there should be no complacency or compromise, taking into account the various venues where IMO meetings are scheduled to be held during the refurbishment period.

　

1.25 He also highlighted the Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme and the globally-recognized need to ensure its successful introduction in the IMO system. Having informed the Committee of the progress being made in its execution, the Secretary-General sought the support and co-operation of all for its wide and effective implementation and looked forward to receiving many more notifications from Governments of their preparedness to be audited - together with the particulars of many more auditors from whom to choose audit teams.

　

1.26 The Secretary-General closed his opening address by stating that, with the usual spirit of co-operation, the Committee would produce satisfactory results to serve well the cause of marine environmental protection and the interests of the world maritime community at large.

　

　

1.27 In responding, the Chairman thanked the Secretary-General for his opening address and stated that it would be given every consideration in the work of the Committee.

　

　

1.28 The Committee adopted the agenda (MEPC 55/1) and the provisional timetable for guidance during the session (MEPC 55/1/1, annex 2, as amended). The agenda, as adopted, with a list of documents considered under each agenda item, is set out in document MEPC 55/INF.13.

　

　

1.29 The Committee noted the report of the Secretary-General that credentials of the delegations were in due and proper order.