The 13th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) took place in person at the IMO Headquarters in London from 9 to 13 February 2026. SYBAss attended the entire committee session. The sub-committee reached an agreement on the proposed updates to the MARPOL Convention and other relevant IMO instruments.
MARPOL Annex IV: Progress has been made on the revision of MARPOL Annex IV and its associated guidance with respect to improving sewage effluent discharge from ships.
MARPOL Annex VI & NOx Technical Code: Amendments to the NOx Technical Code 2008 have been agreed upon to facilitate the certification of engines that run on non-carbon containing fuels. These amendments will be submitted to MEPC 84 for approval.
Development of a legally binding framework for the control and management of ships’ biofouling: Established a correspondence group to advance the overarching objectives and structure of the framework as well as developing a work plan.
During the PPR 13, SYBAss attended the Technical Seminar on Marine Biofuels, organised by the Future Fuels and Technology Team, which took place at the IMO Headquarters on 12 February 2026. The seminar aimed to enhance understanding and share recent
experiences regarding the use of biofuels as low- greenhouse gas (GHG) marine fuels. It focused on the latest developments in biofuels for the maritime sector, discussing both the challenges and opportunities associated with using marine fuels derived from plants, waste oils, or agricultural residues to help reduce GHG emissions from shipping.
Please note that the information presented reflects the status at the time of PPR 13 and may change due to ongoing developments. It is also uncertain at this time whether the proposed amendments or new regulations mentioned will eventually be adopted in future versions of the Red Ensign Group Yacht Codes or other flag codes.