REMPEC organises IMO Regional Workshop on MARPOL Annex VI – Ship Energy Efficiency and Technology Transfer – Nov 03, 2014

Within the framework of the Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and in line with REMPEC’s activities included in UNEP/MAP’s programme of work 2014-2015, REMPEC organised the IMO Regional Workshop on MARPOL Annex VI – Ship Energy Efficiency and Technology Transfer, which was held at the Elite World Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey, from 3 to 5 November 2014.  The Workshop, which was organised in close co-operation with IMO’s Marine Environment Division (MED) and hosted by the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications of Turkey, was financed by IMO's Technical Cooperation (TC) Fund, REMPEC’s MTF budget, and through a voluntary contribution by the Government of Malta to REMPEC.

Mr. Jonathan Pace, Officer in Charge/Head of Office, REMPEC, acted as the Workshop's Co-ordinator whilst Dr Zabi Bazari and Dr Raphaël Baumler, Consultants, and Dr Theofanis Karayannis, Technical Officer, IMO/MED facilitated the Workshop and delivered presentations.  Fifteen (15) participants from fourteen (14) Mediterranean coastal States and twelve (12) participants from Turkey, the host country, attended the Workshop.

The Regional Workshop provided detailed information with regard to the most recent amendments to Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention, namely its new Chapter 4 (Regulations on energy efficiency for ships), and the responsibilities of Parties under the Convention.  The Workshop focused particularly on technology transfer, with the third day dedicated entirely to this topic. Interactive group and plenary discussions took place, eliciting the views and needs of the region’s States with regard to technology transfer, which will be fed back to IMO’s Ad Hoc Expert Working Group on the Facilitation of Transfer of Technology for Ships (AHEWG-TT).