What Is the MEPC Meeting by the IMO?

The Marine Environment Protection Committee, commonly called the MEPC, is a key committee within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) framework that mainly focuses on the adoption of marine environment regulations and port facilities adequacy in the shipping sector.

All sessions of the MEPC meeting include news on controlling pollution from ships with scrubbers, reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), boosting sustainability, and protecting marine biodiversity based on permanent global guidelines without causing geopolitical tensions or comments.

Moreover, the recent MEPC sessions by the IMO approve decarbonisation, fuels and energy efficiency, and plastic waste reduction with ideas that support innovation and capacity building in green technologies and systems within the maritime industry in its final draft.

However, when talking about the MEPC 83 meeting, then we are talking about the 83rd session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee held by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). To meet and address existing shipping's environmental issues and prepare and adopt the best possible agreement with the executive framework.

When the MEPC 83 Summary by the IMO is Held?

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) usually meets once a year, and an additional session could be held if an extraordinary event or critical maritime environmental crisis needs to be reviewed intersessional for ensuring a powerful maritime risk management approach and marine environment protection.

​However, if you want to know when the 83rd talks of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83) are being held, then the answer would be during the 7 to 11 week of April 2025, moreover, will be presided over by Harry Conway and host at the IMO's Headquarters in London with possibility for remote attending for international operators.

The 10 Main Key Points in the MEPC 83 in April:

Tackling Climate Change - Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships:

Focused on boosting all the current and future efforts to reduce, control, and stop any greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping based on the pivotal IMO’s decarbonisation proposal.

Review of the Short-Term Measure to Reduce GHG Emissions:

In the MEPC session, the committee evaluated the effectiveness of the current carbon intensity regulations and set improvement plans for better environmental impact based on effective data analysis.

Energy Efficiency of Ships:

There were many discussed strategies in the MEPC 83 session to enhance ship design, energy usage plan, and operational efficiency, as all of them aimed and were prepared to reduce fuel consumption and emissions and boost the economic process.

Addressing Marine Plastic Litter:

The plastic pollution factor played a big role in the MEPC 83 session, as the scheduled discussions reviewed the effective measures and actions to limit plastic waste from ships, improve each waste handling outcome, and prevent ocean pollution in the most effective ways.

Identification and Protection of Special Areas, ECAs, and PSSAs:

The MEPC 83 session approved all the necessary rules and guidance for designated and important marine zones with stricter environmental rules to protect the marine environment.

Ballast Water Management:

Monitored progress by the committee MEPC in the implementation of the Ballast Water Management Convention is vital to prevent invasive species transfer in the marine environment.

Air Pollution Prevention:

The session of MEPC 83 reviewed all regulations related to limiting sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions to improve air quality in the marine environment and as a default in the entire world.

Amendments to NOx Technical Code:

The proposed updates to the technical code in the document MEPC 83 in April aim to strengthen standards and measures for nitrogen oxide emissions from marine engines.

Pollution Prevention and Response:

All ships and vessels should follow the enhanced readiness and response mechanisms approved by the MEPC 83 session for oil spills and other ship-sourced marine pollution incidents.

Proposals for New Outputs:

The April MEPC 83 session is considering the approval of new agenda items and research areas to enhance maritime environmental protection in all included activities and operations in the maritime industry.