Manama : The Kingdom of Bahrain acceded to Annex VI of the 1973 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), as modified by the 1978 Protocol.
The accession reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to protecting the marine environment, preserving air quality and reducing emissions from the maritime transport sector in line with international standards and best practices.
It builds on Bahrain’s international environmental commitments following its accession to MARPOL and Annexes I, II and V under Law No. (32) of 2005. Annex VI is one of the convention’s key environmental annexes, establishing a comprehensive framework to regulate air emissions from ships by setting limits on the sulphur content of marine fuel, regulating nitrogen oxide emissions from ship engines, reducing particulate matter, volatile organic compounds from oil tankers and ozone-depleting substances. It also requires ships to obtain the International Air Pollution Prevention (IAPP) Certificate and comply with energy efficiency and carbon intensity reduction requirements.
Bader Hood Al Mahmood, Undersecretary for Ports and Maritime Affairs at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, said Bahrain’s accession to MARPOL Annex VI reflects the Kingdom’s steadfast commitment to supporting international efforts to protect the marine environment and reduce emissions from the maritime transport sector.
He said the step demonstrates Bahrain’s commitment to keeping pace with developments by adopting the latest standards approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), while strengthening the role of maritime navigation in supporting sustainable development and mitigating pollution associated with the sector.
Al Mahmood said the Ports Affairs will continue to strengthen maritime inspection and oversight systems and ensure implementation of the new environmental requirements for ships visiting Bahraini ports and vessels registered under the Bahraini flag. He added that these efforts will enhance the efficiency of the maritime sector, support the transition to more sustainable operations and reinforce Bahrain’s position as a maritime hub committed to the highest international standards.
For her part, Amna Hamad Al Rumaihi, Chief Executive of the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE), said Bahrain’s accession to MARPOL Annex VI represents a key milestone in strengthening integrated environmental action and enhancing the Kingdom’s contribution to international efforts to protect air quality.
She said the move will strengthen inspections of ships visiting Bahraini ports by verifying compliance with fuel and emissions requirements in accordance with IMO standards, while also enhancing compliance by Bahraini-flagged vessels with international environmental requirements, including obtaining the necessary certificates and implementing energy efficiency management plans. She added that these measures will help protect the environment and its resources and ensure their sustainability for future generations.
MARPOL aims to protect the environment from pollution and other impacts resulting from shipping operations and maritime navigation through international cooperation among its member states. Its annexes, adopted over time following the convention’s entry into force, set out detailed regulations covering different environmental aspects of shipping and maritime activities.
