Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 13) - Closing remarks

ADDRESS OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AT THE CLOSING OF THE THIRTEENTH SESSION OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON POLLUTION PREVENTION AND RESPONSE (PPR 13), 9 to 13 February 2026

Delivered by IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez on 13 February 2026.

Distinguished delegates,

As we conclude the thirteenth session of the Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response, I wish to acknowledge a few important matters.

First of all, I am pleased to note that over this week, you have delivered several outcomes that advance the Organization's work. I take this opportunity to highlight some important results of your work this week.

You have finalized the draft revised Guidelines for systems for handling oily wastes in machinery spaces of ships incorporating guidance notes for an integrated bilge water treatment system and the associated draft amendments to MARPOL Annex I, along with the draft revised Guidance for the recording of operations in the Oil Record Book.

Regarding marine plastic litter:

  • You have consolidated the revised Strategy to address Marine Plastic Litter from Ships and the 2025 Action Plan into a single resolution for adoption by the Committee;
  • You have completed the analysis on the maritime transport of plastic pellets in freight containers, and you have recommended to the Committee the development of a new code to be made mandatory under MARPOL Annex III and/or SOLAS as the way forward; and
  • You have prepared a draft MEPC circular promoting both the implementation of fishing gear marking systems and the FAO Voluntary Guidelines on Marking of Fishing Gear.

You have also laid the groundwork for the development of a legally binding framework for the control and management of ships' biofouling.

In relation to the prevention of air pollution, you have finalized draft amendments to the NOx Technical Code in relation to non-carbon containing fuels, for approval by the Committee and subsequent adoption. Work has also been initiated on the important review of the NOx emissions control and compliance framework to ensure standards achieve the intended emission reductions, and you held in-depth  technical discussions on the ‘polar fuels’ concept in the context of efforts to reduce the impact on the Arctic of Black Carbon emissions from international shipping.

Special appreciation is due to your Chair, Dr. Anita Mäkinen of Finland. 

Anita, upon retiring from your position with the Finnish Government you are stepping down as Chair of the Sub-Committee, this being your second session leading us through many complex topics and challenging discussions. Before that you also served us with distinction as Vice-Chair starting in 2020 before taking the helm as Chair in 2025. With a PhD in Marine Biology and a career spanning academia, non-governmental organizations, and the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, you have combined deep scientific expertise with policy acumen. While you are retiring from your role in the Finnish Administration, I am certain that a person with your passion for marine environmental protection, the Arctic, and the Baltic Sea, will continue to contribute to the maritime community in new ways. I am sure we will see you again in the future.

Anita, on behalf of the Secretariat and the membership, I thank you for your dedication, your service, your expertise, and your friendship. We wish you all the best in your next endeavours. 

I would like to congratulate Ms. Clea Henrichsen of Denmark and Mr. Changhyun Lim of the Republic of Korea for their election to the post of Chair and Vice-Chair of the Sub-Committee for 2027. We look forward to working with you both in the lead up to the next session of this Sub-Committee (PPR 14). 

My gratitude also goes to the Chairs of the Working, Drafting, and Technical Groups convened during this session: 

  • Ms. Sarah Bailey of Canada;
  • Mrs. Jeannette Gómez Contreras of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Ms. Nimia Willems of Liberia;
  • Ms. Clea Henrichsen of Denmark;
  • Mr. Wayne Lundy of the United States; and
  • Ms. Annalisse Skelton of Australia.

Your excellent leadership in discussions has really helped in making progress in the Sub-Committee this week.

As always, this is also an opportune moment to express our gratitude to those delegates who are leaving and concluding their tenure with us and for whom this marks the final session of the Sub-Committee:

  • Mr. Barkah Bayu Mirajaya (Indonesia); and
  • Mr. Rama Anom Kurniawan (Indonesia).

Before bringing this session of the Sub-Committee to a close, I wish to take a moment to recognize the contribution of Mr. Bryan Wood-Thomas, Vice President at the World Shipping Council, who will soon be retiring. Bryan joined WSC in 2008, but his legacy at IMO began long before that during his service with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and his tenure as lead negotiator for the United States for a number of environmental-oriented international treaties. He has brought together the rigor of a regulator and the pragmatism of the industry, often helping us navigate the winding path towards consensus with integrity above all. Bryan, you have been a regulator, a negotiator, and an industry leader, but more importantly for this Organization, you have been a bridge-builder.

On behalf of the Secretariat and the membership, thank you for your service to maritime community and this Organization. We wish you a retirement as rewarding as your career has been.

As always, I am grateful for the efforts of the staff of the Marine Environment Division for their hard work in preparing and supporting this meeting, as well as that of all other staff of the Secretariat. I also wish take this opportunity to thank the interpreters, who once again have facilitated our seamless communication during our meeting.

All that remains for me now is to once again thank you for your commitment, hard work and continued dedication to the work of the Organization. I hope you enjoy a well-deserved, restful weekend.

Thank you.

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