The 77th session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 77) was held from 22 to 26 November, 2021 by video conference, due to the pandemic of COVID-19. The key subjects are the following: 
-Tackling climate change-cutting GHG emissions from ships. Agreed to initiate the revision of the Initial IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG emissions from ships.
-Discussion of proposals to further reduce GHG emissions from shipping. Further mid-term GHG reduction measures were discussed during the session.
-Impact assessment of GHG measures. The Committee agreed to establish an Ad-hoc Expert Workshop on Impact Assessments to consider concrete proposals for improving the impact assessment procedure and provide recommendations as part of the lessons-learned exercise.
-IMO GHG TC Trust Fund. New pledges were made by Governments to support the work of the Organization in supporting the implementation of the Initial GHG Strategy in developing countries.
-Correspondence Group on Carbon Intensity Reduction was established to finalize and update guidelines.
-Adopted a resolution which urges Member States and ship operators to voluntarily use distillate or other cleaner alternative fuels or methods of propulsion that are safe for ships and could contribute to the reduction of Black Carbon emissions from ships when operating in or near the Arctic.
-Revised Guidelines for exhaust gas cleaning systems adopted to update the last version adopted in 2015.
-Agreed the scope of work for the PPR Sub-Committee relating to evaluation and harmonization of rules and guidance on EGCS discharge water into the aquatic environment (including the conditions and areas for discharge).
-Strategy to address marine plastic litter from ships adopted in order to enhance implementation of IMO’s mandatory international regulations.
-Considered proposals related to making the marking of fishing gear mandatory. 
-Considered a proposal to extend the requirement for a Garbage Record Book to ships less than 400 GT and equal to or greater than 100 GT.
-Plastic pollution by plastic pellets (MV X-Press Pearl incident) will be subject to the PPR Sub-committee for further discussion.
-Harmful aquatic organisms in ballast water. Approved a unified interpretation of the date to be used for determining the implementation of mandatory commissioning testing of individual ballast water management systems in accordance with resolution MEPC.325 (75). MEPC also established fundamental elements to be taken into account for the further development of guidance on measures that may be taken when ballast water management systems encounter challenging water quality on uptake.
-Approved draft amendments to appendix I (Guidelines for the categorization of noxious liquid substances) to MARPOL Annex II that are consequential to the revised GESAMP Hazard Evaluation Procedure.
Source: www.imo.org
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