The Marine Environment
Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
meets for its 64th session from 1 to 5 October 2012, at IMO Headquarters in
London.
As well as discussing
matters relating to the implementation of energy-efficiency, ballast water
management and ship-recycling regulations, the MEPC will also consider formally
designating the Saba Bank, in the North-eastern Caribbean area of the Kingdom
of the Netherlands, as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA).
Work to continue on
energy-efficiency measures for ships
The MEPC is expected to
continue its work on further developing technical and operational measures
relating to energy-efficiency measures for ships, based on a work plan agreed
at the last session. This follows the adoption of the new chapter 4 of MARPOL
Annex VI, which enters into force on 1 January 2013 and includes new
requirements mandating the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), for new
ships, and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) for all ships.
This work will include the
development of guidelines for determining minimum propulsion power and speed to
enable safe manoeuvring in adverse weather conditions and the development of
EEDI frameworks for ships not covered by the current EEDI, e.g., ro-ro and
cruise passenger ships, and ships with non-conventional propulsion systems,
e.g., diesel-electric or turbine propulsion. This work is expected to continue
at this session, based on submissions received.
Technical cooperation for
the implementation of mandatory energy-efficiency measures
Regulation 23 of chapter 4
of MARPOL Annex VI on Promotion of technical co-operation and transfer of
technology relating to the improvement of energy efficiency of ships requires
Administrations, in co-operation with the Organization and other international
bodies, to promote and provide, as appropriate, support directly or through IMO
to States, especially developing States, that request technical assistance. It
also requires the Administration of a Party to MARPOL Annex VI to co-operate
actively with other Parties, subject to its national laws, regulations and
policies, to promote the development and transfer of technology and exchange of
information to States which request technical assistance, particularly
developing States.
The MEPC will further
consider a draft MEPC resolution on promotion of technical co-operation and
transfer of technology relating to the improvement of energy efficiency of
ships. The resolution is intended to provide a framework aimed at promoting and
facilitating technology transfer, to support the implementation of the new
regulations on energy efficiency for ships.
Market-based measures to
address the reduction of GHGs under discussion
The MEPC is expected to
continue its consideration of proposed market-based measures (MBMs) to reduce
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which would complement the technical and
operational measures already adopted.
It is anticipated that the
discussions at MEPC will focus on an update of the GHG emissions’ estimate for
international shipping and the methodology and criteria for a comprehensive
impact assessment of the MBM proposals (following earlier, initial impact
assessments), with a view to studying in detail the direct and indirect impacts
on (consumers and industries in) developing countries of the introduction, and
non-introduction, of an MBM for international shipping under the auspices of
IMO.
Availability of fuel oil to
meet air pollution requirements to be considered
The MEPC will further
consider matters relating to the availability of fuel oil to meet the
requirements set out in the MARPOL Annex VI regulation on emissions of sulphur
oxides (SOx) from ships.
Fuel oil sulphur content
(expressed in terms of % m/m – that is, by weight) is required to be a maximum
of 3.50% m/m (outside an Emission Control Area (ECA)), falling to 0.50% m/m on
and after 1 January 2020. Depending on the outcome of a review, to be completed
by 2018, as to the availability of compliant fuel oil, this requirement could
be deferred to 1 January 2025.
The MEPC is expected to
consider the start date for this review.
It should be noted that,
within ECAs, fuel oil sulphur content (expressed in terms of % m/m – that is,
by weight) must be no more than 1.00% m/m; falling to 0.10% m/m on and after 1
January 2015.
Ballast water management
systems up for approval
The MEPC will consider the
reports of the twenty-first, twenty-second and twenty-third meetings of the
Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environment
Protection (GESAMP) Ballast Water Working Group (held during 2012), with a view
to granting basic approval to five, and final approval to three, ballast water
management systems that make use of active substances.
The MEPC is expected to reiterate
the need for those countries that have not yet done so to ratify the
International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water
and Sediments, 2004, to achieve its entry into force at the earliest
opportunity. To date, 36 States, with an aggregate merchant shipping tonnage of
29.07 per cent of the world total, have ratified the Convention. The Convention
will enter into force twelve months after the date on which not fewer than 30
States, the combined merchant fleets of which constitute not less than 35 per
cent of the gross tonnage of the world’s merchant shipping, have become Parties
to it.
The Committee will also
consider a number of proposals related to the practical implementation of the
Convention, aimed at harmonizing the type-approval and sampling procedures, and
eliminating uncertainties with regard to compliance and preventing the
possibility of improperly penalizing ships’ crew members.
Specific proposals related
to highly specialized ships will also be examined by the MEPC, with a view to
developing specific guidance for offshore support vessels and mobile offshore
units, in anticipation of the entry into force of the BWM Convention.
Recycling of ships –
guidelines to be considered
The MEPC is expected to
consider draft Guidelines for Survey and Certification of Ships under the Hong
Kong Convention (Survey and Certification Guidelines) and Guidelines for
Inspection of Ships under the Hong Kong Convention (Inspection Guidelines),
which have been further developed by the intersessional correspondence group on
Ship-Recycling Guidelines.
These guidelines, along with
other guidelines already adopted, are intended to assist ship-recycling
facilities and shipping companies to commence introducing voluntary
improvements to meet the requirements of the Hong Kong International Convention
for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, which was adopted in
May 2009. The treaty will enter into force 24 months after ratification by 15
States, representing 40 per cent of world merchant shipping by gross tonnage,
and combined maximum annual ship-recycling volume not less than 3 per cent of
their combined tonnage. Efforts are being made to encourage Member Governments
to ratify the Hong Kong Convention at their earliest convenience.
Saba Bank PSSA designation
to be considered
The MEPC will consider
formally designating the Saba Bank, in the North-eastern Caribbean area of the
Kingdom of the Netherlands, as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA),
following approval in principle at the last session.
Associated Protective
Measures were approved by the Sub Committee on Safety of Navigation (NAV), at
its meeting in July 2012, namely, the establishment of a new mandatory ‘no
anchoring’ area for all ships and a new ‘area to be avoided’ (for ships of 300
gross tonnage or over) in the proposed PSSA.
Amendments to the IBC Code
set for adoption
The MEPC will consider, for
adoption, draft amendments to chapters 17, 18 and 19 of the International Code
for the Construction and Equipment of Ships carrying Dangerous Chemicals in
Bulk (IBC Code), which have been already been approved for adoption by the
Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 90).
Sewage treatment plant
guideline set for adoption
The MEPC is expected to
consider for adoption draft 2012 Guidelines on implementation of effluent
standards and performance tests for sewage treatment plants, which are intended
to provide guidance on the implementation of new requirements (coming into
effect from 1 January 2016) for sewage treatment plants installed on passenger
ships operating in MARPOL Annex IV special areas.
Mandatory audit scheme:
approval of draft III Code and MARPOL amendments expected
The MEPC is expected to
approve the draft IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code), which sets
the standard for the IMO audit scheme, and to approve draft amendments to
MARPOL to make the III Code and auditing mandatory under that treaty.
The aim is to adopt the
MARPOL amendments in 2014, once the III Code has been formally adopted by the
IMO Assembly, in 2013.
Recognized organizations
code to be approved
The MEPC is expected to
approve the draft Code for Recognized Organizations (ROs) and related draft
amendments to MARPOL (Annexes I and II) to make it mandatory, for adoption at a
future session.
The Code will provide a
consolidated text containing criteria against which ROs (which may be
authorized by flag States to carry out surveys and issue certificates on their
behalf) are assessed and authorized/recognized, and give guidance for subsequent
monitoring of ROs by Administrations.
Source : SN-TR, 28.09.12.
