At the 83rd session of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), held from 7–11 April 2025 in London, the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA), led by Secretary-General Prof. Ziad Abu Ghararah, held a dedicated side meeting with IMO officials responsible for marine pollution, IMSAS Audit, and Port State Control.

PERSGA showcased notable progress in MARPOL compliance across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, particularly within Special Areas. Achievements highlighted included regional and national capacity-building efforts, developed in close coordination with the IMO and PERSGA Member States. Key areas of discussion included:

• Strengthening regional enforcement of MARPOL and other IMO instruments.
• Enhancing Flag State Implementation (FSI) through training and technical support.
• Tackling marine plastic pollution, with emphasis on Abandoned, Lost, otherwise Discarded Fishing Gears (ALDFG) and plastic pellets.
• Expanding PERSGA–IMO collaboration on PSC implementation and related initiatives.

Also, the MEPC session concluded with major environmental decisions and regulatory advancements, including:

• the adoption of the IMO Net-Zero Framework, introducing global GHG emissions limits and pricing, with a new international low-carbon fuel standard and a global mechanism to incentivize low-emission technologies.
• Adoption of 2025 Action Plan to combat marine plastic litter; 
• Progress in the review of the Ballast Water Management Convention;
• Approval of a proposal to designate the North-East Atlantic as an Emission Control Area and agreement in principle to designate two new Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas off South America’s Pacific coast;
• Approval of the draft Work plan on the development of a regulatory framework for the use of Onboard Carbon Capture Storage systems (OCCS)
• Approval of draft amendments to regulation 27 of MARPOL Annex VI regarding accessibility of the IMO Data Collection System
• Adoption of amendments to the 2021 Guidelines on the operational carbon intensity reduction factors relative to reference lines (CII reduction factors guidelines, G3)
• Approval of a new output to develop a legally binding framework on biofouling management, to prevent the spread of harmful invasive aquatic species

Pending formal approval, the draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI will be circulated to IMO Member States, including PERSGA members. Final adoption is scheduled for an extraordinary MEPC session in October 2025, with the amendments expected to enter into force 16 months thereafter, in line with MARPOL procedures.