A large number of abandoned or no-longer usable fiberglass vessels – including fishing vessels and leisure craft – are dumped at sea each year, possibly due to a lack of land-based disposal facilities. This was a concern raised by Pacific delegations to the Parties to the treaties, which regulate the dumping of wastes at sea. However, full data on the scale of the problem is lacking.

Fiberglass is a highly recyclable material, and the technology for recycling fiberglass already exists, but the logistics of handling the large amounts of fiberglass hulls from abandoned or derelict vessels poses a significant challenge, in particular in Small Island Developing States.

However, some countries reported that they had implemented a program or strategy for disposal or deconstruction of fiberglass pleasure boats. Following discussion, the Parties to the London Convention and London Protocol agreed further work was needed. The IMO Secretariat was instructed to commission a study to collate information on the scale of the problem and identify key knowledge gaps relating to impacts of fiber-reinforced plastic vessels dumped or placed in the marine environment.

The Scientific Groups (which provide scientific and technical advice to the Parties to the Convention and Protocol) will be invited to consider the study and evaluate whether there is a need for disposal into the sea of fiber-reinforced plastic vessels or vessels with fiber-reinforced plastic components. If there is a need, then whether such vessels could be disposed of in the sea in a safe and environmentally sound manner would be examined.

Additionally, the Scientific Groups should consider whether there is a need to develop guidance on the disposal of fiberglass vessels.
The Scientific Groups (which provide scientific and technical advice to the Parties to the Convention and Protocol) will be invited to consider the study and evaluate whether there is a need for disposal into the sea of fiber-reinforced plastic vessels or vessels with fiber-reinforced plastic components. If there is a need, then whether such vessels could be disposed of in the sea in a safe and environmentally sound manner would be examined. Additionally, the Scientific Groups should consider whether there is a need to develop guidance on the disposal of fiberglass vessels.

The Scientific Groups are scheduled to meet in April-May 2018 in Chile.