IMO Regulatory Agenda 2026: Environmental Protection

As a follow up to the first part of the regulatory plan summary, the following outlines IMO's proposed sustainability initiatives:

• reduction of greenhouse gas emissions fr om ships – resumption of work on amendments to MARPOL Annex VI aimed at tightening the cap on greenhouse gas content in marine fuels and introducing a two-tier economic mechanism;
• black carbon emissions from Arctic shipping – reviewing proposals to introduce mandatory emission control measures through requirements for ship fuel characteristics;
• SECA / NECA – expected adoption of amendments to MARPOL Annex VI which establish new sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide emission control areas in the northeastern part of the Atlantic Ocean;
• ship biofouling – launching the development of a mandatory IMO instrument on the control of biofouling;
• ballast water management – continued work on amendments to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004;
• exhaust gas cleaning systems – continued discussions on the acceptability of using scrubbers as an alternative means of compliance with the sulphur cap in marine fuels;
• revision of the NOx Technical Code – envisaged clarification and tightening of requirements, including provisions on test cycles and emission lim it values;
• marine plastic pollution – further work on developing regulatory options aimed at ensuring the safe maritime transportation of plastic pellets;
• amendments to MARPOL Annex IV – planned clarification of requirements and procedures for ship sewage management.

For detailed information on the work of IMO bodies, visit the “International Activity” – “Results of sessions of the IMO bodies” section of the official RS website or subscribe to the personalized weekly newsletter.

Additional information:

Founded in 1913, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) is a world-renowned classification society that operates within all spheres of the maritime industry with the goal of improving the operational and environmental safety of marine transportation. RS reviews technical documentation, surveys ships and offshore facilities under construction and in service, certifies vessels and companies for compliance with international conventions, recognizes and certifies industrial products and manufacturers, certifies quality management systems for compliance with international and national standards.

Today, RS is actively expanding its scope of services in the field of engineering and consulting, the development of technical documentation for vessels in service, marine warranty surveys, management system certification and recognition of manufacturers. In addition, RS surveys all container types, including tank containers and offshore containers, confirms compliance of packaging for dangerous goods, as well as renders services on the declaration and certification of dangerous goods and bulk cargoes.