National Workshop on Ratification and Effective Implementation of MARPOL Annex VI for Algeria

As part of the continued assistance provided by REMPEC to the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention, which so request, pursuant to the Regional Strategy for Prevention of and Response to Marine Pollution from Ships (2016-2021) as well as the Road Map for a Proposal for the Possible Designation of the Mediterranean Sea, as a whole, as an Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides Pursuant to MARPOL Annex VI, within the Framework of the Barcelona Convention, and to address the issue of air pollution caused by ships in the Mediterranean, the National Workshop (virtual) on Ratification and Effective Implementation of MARPOL Annex VI for Algeria was held on 26 November 2020.

The workshop was organised by REMPEC, in close cooperation with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Government of Algeria, with the financial support of the IMO’s Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) and the Mediterranean Trust Fund of the Barcelona Convention, and was attended by more than 25 Algerian participants from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Fisheries and Halieutic Resources, the Ministry of Energy, as well as other organisations and institutions directly related to the subject, such as shipping companies, port companies and maritime training institutes. It was also attended by representatives from IMO, Plan Bleu and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).

The main objectives of the workshop were:

.1  to raise awareness on Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL);

.2  to provide for a greater understanding and appreciation of the requirements for implementation and enforcement of MARPOL Annex VI, in order to be able to support the efforts of the Government of Algeria towards ratification and more effective implementation, compliance and enforcement, both as a flag State and as a port State; and

.3  to discuss about the possible designation of the Mediterranean Sea, as a whole, as an Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides (Med SOx ECA) pursuant to MARPOL Annex VI, within the framework of the Barcelona Convention.

As a national event, the workshop concentrated on the specific needs of Algeria, and the participants were encouraged to and did actively raise questions as well as expressed ideas and thoughts over the issues relevant to Algeria and its people under the topics of the workshop.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected the physical organisation of events by REMPEC in 2020, the workshop was held remotely.

Workshop programme

• Final programme

Workshop presentations