Following the recent decision, taken at the 80th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 80), held at IMO Headquarters from 3-7 July 2023, that the discharge requirements of regulation 6 of MARPOL*  Annex V in respect to the Red Sea Special Area shall take effect on 1 January 2025 (resolution MEPC.382(8)) and also that the discharge requirements of regulations 15.3, 15.5 and 34.3 to 34.5 of MARPOL Annex I in respect to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Special Areas shall take effect on 1 January 2025 (resolution MEPC.381(80)), an urgent need has been identified to increase the preparedness of Member States with a view to fulfil their treaty obligations. These include providing capacity buildings, provision by Member States of adequate reception facilities in all type of ports, including fishing ports and reporting them, as required through the IMO Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS), and the responsibilities of both the flag and port State. MARPOL Annex I relates to regulations for the prevention of pollution by oil from ships and Annex V relates to regulations for the prevention of pollution by garbage from ships.

Within this context, PERSGA organized between 27^th and 30^th May 2024 in Jeddah, a national workshop in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The main objective of this national training workshop was to offer information and guidance concerning the Kingdom‘s responsibilities and duties in preparation for the forthcoming entry into force. This is directly related to the designation of special areas in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden as outlined in MARPOL Annexes I and V. This work programme was initiated during the first regional workshop held in Jeddah between the 8and 11 January 2024.