The Subcomittee will continue with agenda items aimed at minimizing the impact of shipping on the fragile Arctic environment. Mitigation measures are expected to be implemented to reduce the risks of fuel use and transportation by ships in Arctic waters.

The Sucommittee is aldo expected to discuss a series of presentations related to reducing the Arctic impact of black carbon emissions from international shipping.

The prevention of pollution by sewage from ships in another important topic to be addressed in the program. A correspondence group will report on its review of the MARPOL Annex IV regulations and the corresponding 2012 guidelines on the application of effluent standars and performance tests for watewatrer treatment plants.

On the other hand, IMO s work to prevert the spread of potentially harmful invasive aquatic species continues. The Subcommittee will continue its work to develop a standar for the verification of ballast water compliance monitoring devices. The IMO Ballast water Management Convention, wic has been in force since 2017, aims to prevent the spread of harmful species in ballast water by requiring ships to manage their ballast water.

Invasive species can also travel on the outsides of ships. The SubCommittee will continue its review of the IMO Guidelines on Biofouling, wich provide a globally consistent approach to managing biofuling - the accumukation of various  aquatic organisms on ship hulls.

The IMO action plan to address marine plastic litter is relevant to the Subcommittee. Specifically, the Subcommittee will consider the otcome of a correspondence group, which has been studying how to address losse