Shipping matters

Shipping exerts a number of pressures

The main pressures associated with maritime shipping in the OSPAR area include the following:

  • Pollution by oil and hazardous or toxic substances from incidental, operational and illegal discharges.
  • Air pollution through emissions and particulate matter from engine exhaust gases and cargo tanks, which may be carried over long distances.
  • Discharge and disposal of wastes from ships including sewage and litter.
  • Release of toxic chemicals used in anti-fouling paints and anodes.
  • Introduction of non-indigenous organisms through ships’ ballast water and associated sediments, and fouling on ships’ hulls.
  • Pollution and physical impact through loss of ships and cargo.
  • Physical and other impacts including noise and collision with marine mammals.

OSPAR's work on shipping related issues

Ballast water and biofouling

OSPAR and HELCOM have a Joint Task Group on Ballst Water and Biofouling. For more information on the group, please visit this page https://www.ospar.org/work-areas/eiha/shipping/ballast-and-biofouling

Management of discharge water from scrubbers on board ships

In 2025, OSPAR adopted a new collective measure on management of discharge water from scrubbers on board ships to significantly reduce such discharges in waters under national jurisdiction. For more information, please visit this page https://www.ospar.org/work-areas/eiha/shipping/pollution-from-shipping-activities

Feeder report on shipping and ports

This paper summarises the status of commercial shipping within the OSPAR Maritime Area and of measures taken to manage its environmental impacts https://oap.ospar.org/en/ospar-assessments/quality-status-reports/qsr-2023/other-assessments/shipping-and-ports/

Feeder report on recreational boating and cruise tourism

Recreational boating and cruise tourism take place around the North-East Atlantic Ocean. This is a relevant activity both because of its economic relevance and because of its dependence on the marine ecosystemhttps://oap.ospar.org/en/ospar-assessments/quality-status-reports/qsr-2023/other-assessments/recreation-tourism/

OSPAR cooperates with other international organisations

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the competent international body regulating international shipping to protect the marine environment. OSPAR can refer to the IMO any shipping-related concerns regarding environmental protection within the OSPAR area.

OSPAR also works closely with the Bonn Agreement. This is the mechanism by which the North Sea states and the EU work together to detect and combat pollution from maritime disasters and chronic pollution from ships and offshore installations.