The IMO has adopted guidelines for the transport of plastic pellets at sea. The purpose is, of course, to ensure that plastic pellets do not end up in the oceans. Danish Shipping supports the new guidelines but would have preferred them to be made mandatory.

It is a major problem if large amounts of tiny plastic beads, known as plastic pellets, end up in the sea. It is a form of plastic pollution that can be incredibly difficult to clean up.

Danish Shipping welcomes the adoption of the new global advisory guidelines for the transport of plastic pellets with the aim of reducing the risk of the material ending up in the sea.

“Plastic does not belong in our oceans, and we must do what we can to prevent it from ending up there. Therefore, it is a very positive development that IMO has now adopted guidelines on how to handle plastic pellets on board. I definitely hope that the next step will be to make the guidelines mandatory,” said Nina Porst, Director of Climate, Environment, and Safety for Danish Shipping.

Therefore, it is a very positive development that IMO has now adopted guidelines on how to handle plastic pellets on board. I definitely hope that the next step will be to make the guidelines mandatory

Nina Porst, Director of Climate, Environment, and Safety for Danish Shipping

The new advisory guidelines address, among other things, how plastic pellets should be packed and stowed on board.

“Shipping is by nature a global business. And moreover, plastic pellets that go overboard can end up very far from where it happened. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to adopt global guidelines that apply regardless of where you sail. I also hope that the EU, instead of implementing regional regulation, will join the work to ensure binding global regulation of the transport of plastic pellets at sea,” said Nina Porst.