Finland adopted amendments to conventions protecting the marine environment

On 19 and 20 October 2023, the Government and the President of the Republic discussed the national approval of amendments made to conventions adopted by the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization, IMO. The amendments concern the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments.

The Government adopted amendments that will make the Mediterranean subject to the same strict sulphur emission limit as the Baltic Sea. The President of the Republic adopted certain other amendments, which will allow regional ship waste reception arrangements in the ports of the Arctic marine area. In addition, the President of the Republic adopted certain technical amendments to the form of the documentation required of vessels, such as the example form for the ballast water record book.

The Marine Environment Protection Committee of IMO adopted the amendments to the MARPOL Convention at its 79th session in December 2022 and the amendments to the Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments at its 80th session in July 2023.

What's next?

The amendments to the MARPOL Convention will enter into force on 1 May 2024 and to the Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments on 1 February 2025. The amendments falling within the shared competence of the EU and its Member States must be brought into force at the national level by a government decree. Amendments to provisions under the exclusive competence of the EU will enter into force for Finland without separate measures but the Ministry of Transport and Communications will issue a notification on their entry into force.

Inquiries:

Laura Sarlin, Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 534 2063, laura.sarlin(at)gov.fi