What's new with MEPC 79

Introduction

The seventy-ninth session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee was held from 12 to 16 December 2022.

This article categorizes the MEPC adopted decisions in four topics:

1. Consideration and adoption of amendments to mandatory instruments
2. Harmful aquatic organisms in ballast water
3. Air pollution prevention
4. Energy efficiency of ships

1- Consideration and adoption of amendments to mandatory instruments

A) Amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II and IV concerning regional reception facilities within Arctic waters and Form of the IOPP Certificate and Supplements

The Committee recalled that MEPC 78 had approved draft amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II and IV concerning regional reception facilities within Arctic waters and Form B of the IOPP Certificate.

The Committee confirmed the contents of the requisite resolution (subject to editorial improvements, if any) and agreed that the entry-into-force date of the amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II and IV would be 1 May 2024, and instructed the Drafting Group to prepare the final text of the requisite MEPC resolution, together with the amendments to the MARPOL Annexes I, II and IV, for the Committee's consideration and adoption.

These amendments include the following:

1. Annex I
   1. Reg.38 / Paragraphs 4 & 6 will be replaced by new phrases.
   2. The title of section 5 is replaced by the " 5 – Construction (regulations 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28 and 33)"
2. Annex II
   1. Reg.18 / Paragraphs 3 will be replaced by new phrases.
3. Annex IV
   1. Reg.12 / Paragraphs 2 will be replaced by new phrases. 

B) Amendments to MARPOL Annex V concerning regional reception facilities within Arctic waters and Garbage Record Book

The Committee recalled that MEPC 78 had approved draft amendments to MARPOL Annex V concerning regional reception facilities within Arctic waters and Garbage Record Book.

The Committee confirmed the contents of the requisite resolution and agreed that the entry-into-force date of the amendments to MARPOL Annex V would be 1 May 2024 and instructed the Drafting Group to prepare the final text of the requisite MEPC resolution, together with the amendments to MARPOL Annex V, for the Committee's consideration and adoption.

These amendments include the following:

1. Reg.8 / Paragraphs 3 will be replaced by new phrases.
2. Reg.10 / Paragraphs 3 & 3.6 will be replaced by new phrases.

C) Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI concerning the designation of a Mediterranean Sea Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides and Particulate Matter

The Committee recalled that MEPC 78 had approved draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI concerning the designation of a Mediterranean Sea Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides and Particulate Matter.

The Committee confirmed the contents of the requisite resolution and agreed that the entry-into-force date of the amendments to MARPOL Annex VI would be 1 May 2024 and instructed the Drafting Group to prepare the final text of the requisite MEPC resolution, together with the amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, for the Committee's consideration and adoption.

This amendment includes some editorial corrections and adding new paragraph 3.5 to regulation 14. Also, a new paragraph 4 will be added to appendix VII, and the Mediterranean Sea SECA will be specified precisely.

D) Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI concerning regional reception facilities within Arctic waters, information to be included in the bunker delivery note (BDN) and information to be submitted to the IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Database

The Committee recalled that MEPC 78 had approved draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI concerning regional reception facilities within Arctic waters, information to be included in the bunker delivery note (BDN) and information to be submitted to the IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Database.

The Committee confirmed the contents of the requisite resolution and agreed that the entry-into-force date of the amendments to MARPOL Annex VI would be 1 May 2024.

Based on a proposal made in plenary with regard to the information to be submitted to the IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Database, the Committee agreed to the inclusion of an additional operative paragraph in the covering resolution inviting early application of the amendment from 1 January 2024, given the entry into force date of 1 May 2024.

Having considered the various proposals to the draft amendments, the Committee instructed the Drafting Group to prepare the final text of the requisite MEPC resolution, together with the amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, taking into account the decisions taken in plenary.

The Committee also instructed the Drafting Group to advise on any requirements for future amendments, in particular to address issues raised with respect to application of the BDN requirements to low-flashpoint fuels.

E) Amendments to the 2012 Guidelines for the development of a regional reception facilities plan

The Committee recalled that MEPC 78 had approved draft amendments to the 2012 Guidelines for the development of a regional reception facilities plan and the associated draft MEPC resolution.

The Committee confirmed their contents, subject to editorial improvements, if any. The Committee confirmed the contents of the requisite resolution and instructed the Drafting Group to prepare the final text of the draft amendments to the 2012 Guidelines for the development of a regional reception facilities plan and the associated draft MEPC resolution, for the Committee's consideration and adoption.

2- Harmful aquatic organisms in ballast water

A) Ballast Water Record Book

The Committee approved the draft amendments to appendix II of the Annex to the BWM Convention (Form of Ballast Water Record Book), with a view to adoption by MEPC 80.

B) Unified interpretations to provisions of the BWM Convention

The Committee approved the unified interpretation of paragraph 4.10 of the BWMS Code, and instructed the Secretariat to circulate it by means of BWM.2/Circ.66/Rev.4, consolidating all existing unified interpretations to the BWM Convention.

In addition, the Committee approved the revised unified interpretation of regulation E-1.1.5 of the BWM Convention and the Form of the International Ballast Water Management Certificate and instructed the Secretariat to circulate it by means of BWM.2/Circ.66/Rev.4.

On the basis of this interpretation, For BWMS components that take measurements, the interval for an accuracy check/calibration (or replacement of a sensor, in case it cannot be calibrated) should not be mandatorily linked to the survey scheme for the BWMS, even though a validity check of calibration certificates should be conducted at BWM annual/intermediate/renewal surveys. The accuracy check/calibration of BWMS components that take measurements should be performed in accordance with the calibration procedure at intervals specified in the manufacturer's instructions.

C) Approval of ballast water management systems that make use of Active Substances

Following consideration of the report of the forty-second meeting of the GESAMP-BWWG (MEPC 79/4/3), the Committee approved the report in general and concurred with the recommendations to:

1. Grant Final Approval to the RADClean® BWMS submitted by the Islamic Republic of Iran in document MEPC 79/4;
2. Grant Final Approval to the ECS-HYCHLORTM 2.0 System submitted by the United Kingdom in document MEPC 79/4/1;

D) Type approval of ballast water management systems

The Committee noted the information regarding type-approved ballast water management systems provided in the following documents:

1. MEPC 79/INF.5 (Norway) on the type approval of the ballast water management system Senza BWMS;
2. MEPC 79/INF.7 (Finland) on the type approval of the LanghBW ballast water management system;
3. MEPC 79/INF.12 (Norway) on amendments to the type approval of the CHITʹs BLUE OCEAN SHIELD ballast water management system;
4. MEPC 79/INF.14 (Republic of Korea) on the type approval of the Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. HiBallast NFTM ballast water management system;
5. MEPC 79/INF.15 (Republic of Korea) on the type approval of the AQUASTAR CO., LTD. AQUASTAR™ ballast water management system; and
6. MEPC 79/INF.17 (Republic of Korea) on the type approval of the SAMKUN CENTURY Co., Ltd ARA Plus+ BWMS ballast water management system

3- Air pollution prevention

A) Amendments to the unified interpretation of regulation 18.3 of MARPOL Annex VI to include synthetic drop-in fuels (renewable fuels of non-biological origin).

The Committee approved the updated unified interpretation clarifying the application of regulation 18.3 of MARPOL Annex VI for synthetic fuels and instructed the Secretariat to revise MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.6 accordingly, for dissemination as MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.7.

With reference to above, EUROMOT proposes to amend the UI on NOX and biofuel approved by MEPC 78 to include synthetic drop-in fuels, belonging to the group of RFNBOs. Therefore, paragraphs 13.1, 13.2 and 13.3 of this UI will be revised.

4- Energy efficiency of ships

A) 2014 Guidelines on the survey and certification of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) (resolution MEPC.254 (67), as amended)

With regard to proposed amendments to the 2014 Guidelines on the survey and certification of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) (resolution MEPC.254(67), as amended), the Committee noted that the Working Group had considered document MEPC 79/6 (ITTC), proposing amendments to the 2014 Guidelines on the survey and certification of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) taking into account the 2021 update of ITTC Recommended Procedures and Guidelines concerning the determination and verification of the EEDI requirements.

The Committee, having noted the Group's discussion, adopted resolution on 2022 Guidelines on survey and certification of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI). Paragraphs 4.3.5, 4.3.6 & 4.3.8 are replaced by new phrases.

B) Unified interpretations

MARPOL Annex VI: With regard to proposed amendments to the unified interpretation of regulations 2.2.18 and 22 of MARPOL Annex VI concerning the definition of new ships for new cruise passenger ships and mandatory reporting EEDI data.

The Committee, having note the Group's discussion, approved the updated unified interpretation clarifying the requirements of EEDI data reporting as specified in regulation 22.3 of MARPOL Annex VI, and instructed the Secretariat to revise MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.6 accordingly, for dissemination as MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.7.

Appendix IX of MARPOL Annex VI: The Committee approved unified interpretations clarifying the reporting of boil-off gas (BOG) consumed on board ships in the IMO ship fuel oil consumption data collection system (DCS) as specified in regulations 2, 27 and Appendix IX of MARPOL Annex VI and instructed the Secretariat to revise MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.6 accordingly, for dissemination as MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.7.

Regulations 8, 26 and 28 of MARPOL Annex VI: The Committee approved unified interpretations clarifying several issues relating to the development and verification of SEEMP Part III and the issuance of the Statement of Compliance for the first year as specified in regulations 8, 26 and 28 of MARPOL Annex VI, and instructed the Secretariat to revise MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.6 accordingly, for dissemination as MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.7.