Viet Nam and the Philippines have taken important steps towards preventing marine plastic litter from sea-based sources. More than 90 participants took part in two capacity-building workshops, where they contributed to the development of national port waste management plans in Ha Long, Viet Nam (6-7 July) and Manila, Philippines (9-10 July).
The newly developed port waste management plans provide a framework to improve port reception facilities, clarify roles and responsibilities, enhance coordination and promote environmentally sound waste management. The workshops also strengthened participants' understanding of the requirements of MARPOL Annex V, IMO guidance and international best practices.
Presentations and discussions highlighted the importance of cooperation among maritime authorities, port operators, local governments and waste service providers to ensure ship-generated waste is managed safely and efficiently, preventing it from entering the marine environment. Participants reviewed current practices, identified key gaps and challenges, and developed recommendations to improve waste reception and handling.
Participants visited Quang Ninh Port and Cai Lan International Container Terminal (CICT) in Viet Nam to assess existing port reception facilities and discuss improvements. In the Philippines, they visited the Port of Manila to review waste reception arrangements, discuss operational challenges and explore practical measures to support implementation of the draft port waste management plan.
Participants of the two workshops represented national and local government agencies, maritime administrations, port authorities, environmental institutions, waste management companies, academia and other relevant stakeholders.
The activities were supported by the RegLitter Project, with funding from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, a project under the umbrella of the OceanLitter Programme that is jointly implemented by IMO and FAO.
