The control of pollutant emissions and discharges from scrubbers (systems for purifying pollutant gases on ships) or the control of NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions outline some of the key axes of the strategy to combat marine pollution from maritime transport, approved during the 37th meeting of the heads of delegation of the members of the Bonn Agreement (Agreement for Cooperation in Dealing with Pollution of the North Sea by Oil and Other Harmful Substances), which was held in Madrid with Spain as the host country.
Representatives from 10 European countries gathered at this meeting, which began on the 16th and concluded yesterday, the 18th, at the Palacio de Zurbano. The meeting was promoted by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, through the Directorate General of the Merchant Navy, to discuss and shape a new strategy for the prevention and fight against pollution from ships in the North Sea. The approved strategy will set the Bonn Agreement’s action plan for the next 10 years, a key period for the decarbonization process of maritime transport and, therefore, for the development of new effective fuels for the sector.
Among the axes of action of the new strategy are the aforementioned challenges and others, such as advancing the improvement of training and means to combat pollution as new fuels are implemented, which require different responses than the current ones, both at sea and in ports, where a maritime emergency can become a civil emergency. The strategy advocates for enhancing joint exercises to accelerate and develop intervention mechanisms considering the new situation, and also for continuing to advance in the regulation of pollutant discharges into the sea, both in terms of control mechanisms, inspection, and sanctioning procedures.
Delegations from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Spain participated in this meeting. All parties have deepened their commitment to continue collaborating in the North Sea, monitoring their areas of responsibility, responding in a coordinated manner to pollution incidents, and sharing the research and innovation developed in the fight against maritime pollution. In this way, Spain and the other countries ensure continuous improvement in the operational processes for preventing and responding to maritime pollution incidents.
