Gulf Digital News, 1 August 2026: Bahrain acceded to Annex VI of the 1973 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), as modified by the 1978 Protocol, reinforcing its commitment to protecting the marine environment and reducing emissions from the maritime transport sector.
Annex VI establishes a comprehensive framework to regulate air emissions from ships, including limits on sulphur content in marine fuel, nitrogen oxide emissions from engines, 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 measures.
Bahrain’s accession builds on its earlier commitments under Bahrain Law No. 32/2005, which covered MARPOL Annexes I, II and V. Bader Al Mahmood, Under‑Secretary for Ports and Maritime Affairs at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, said the move reflects Bahrain’s dedication to adopting the latest International Maritime Organisation (IMO) standards and strengthening maritime navigation’s role in sustainable development. He noted that Ports Affairs will enhance inspection and oversight systems to ensure compliance by ships visiting Bahraini ports and vessels registered under the Bahraini flag.
Amna Al Rumaihi, CEO of the Supreme Council for Environment, described the accession as a milestone in integrated environmental action. She highlighted that inspections will verify compliance with fuel and emissions requirements, while Bahraini‑flagged vessels will be required to obtain certificates and implement energy efficiency management plans.
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