The
Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has today (August 20) issued a circular to members of the shippping community about the resolutions adopted by the 66th session of the
Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 66), which took place between 31 March and 4 April 2014.
In the circular, the MPA urges the shipping community to prepare for the implementation of these resolutions and to comply with the requirements on or before the date of entry into force. A copy of the circular has been provided below.
Source: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)
Resolutions adopted by the 66th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 66) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
1. This circular informs the Shipping Community on the outcome, including the resolutions adopted/approved by the 66th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 66) of IMO, and urges the community to prepare for the implementation of these resolutions.
2. The details of the resolutions can be found in the MEPC 66 final report which is available from the MPA website.
3. The mandatory resolution includes the following:
a. Resolution MEPC.246(66) – Amendments to Annexes I, II, III, IV and V of MARPOL 73/78 (Amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II, III, IV and V to make the use of the III Code mandatory);
The III Code was adopted at the twenty-eighth session of the IMO Assembly (A28) to enhance global maritime safety and protection of the marine environment and to assist States in the implementation of the instruments of IMO.
This resolution amends MARPOL Annexes I, II, III, IV and V in order to make the III Code mandatory and the amendments will enter into force on 1 January 2016.
The amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV and V will be given effect through amendments to the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Oil) Regulations, Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Noxious Liquid).
Substances in Bulk) Regulations, Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Sewage) Regulations and Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Garbage) Regulations respectively. The amendments to MARPOL Annex III will be implemented through the IMDG Code under the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Regulations.
b. Resolution MEPC.247(66) – Amendments to Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78 (To make the use of the III Code mandatory);
This resolution amends MARPOL Annex VI in order to make the III Code mandatory.
The amendments to MARPOL Annex VI will enter into force on 1 January 2016, and will be given effect through amendments to the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Air) Regulations.
c. Resolution MEPC.248(66) – Amendments to Annex I of MARPOL 73/78 (Amendments to MARPOL Annex I on mandatory carriage requirements for a stability instrument);
The resolution amends MARPOL Annex I to require all oil tankers to be fitted with a stability instrument capable of verifying compliance with the relevant intact and damage stability requirements.
The amendments to MARPOL Annex I will enter into force on 1 January 2016, and will be given effect through amendments to the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Oil) Regulations.
d. Resolution MEPC.249(66) – Amendments to the BCH Code (Cargo containment and Form of Certificate of Fitness);
The amendments require all chemical tankers, subject to the BCH Code, to be fitted with a stability instrument capable of verifying compliance with the relevant intact and damage stability requirements.
Resolution MEPC.250(66) – Amendments to the IBC Code (General, Ship survival capability and location of cargo tanks, Cargo tank venting and gas-freeing arrangements, Environmental control, Fire protection and fire extinction, Special requirements, Summary of minimum requirements, and Form of Certificate of Fitness);
The amendments require all chemical tankers, subject to the IBC Code, to be fitted with a stability instrument capable of verifying compliance with the relevant intact and damage stability requirements. The amendments also provide clarifications on purging and gas-freeing requirements in relation to the SOLAS regulations concerning inert gas systems for applicable new tankers constructed on or after 1 January 2016.
The amendments to the BCH Code and the IBC Code will enter into force on 1 January 2016, and will be implemented under the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk) Regulations.
e. Resolution MEPC.251(66) – Amendments to Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78 (Amendments to regulations 2, 13, 19, 20 and 21 and the Supplement to the IAPP Certificate under MARPOL Annex VI and certification of dual-fuel engines under the NOx Technical Code 2008).
The resolution amends MARPOL Annex VI to extend the application of the EEDI requirements to LNG carriers, ro-ro cargo ships (vehicle carriers), ro-ro cargo ships, ro-ro passenger ships and cruise passenger ships having non-conventional propulsion. Ships not propelled by mechanical means and cargo ships having ice-breaking capability are exempted.
The amendments also determined the effective implementation date of the Tier III NOx emission standard for existing NOx ECA to be 1
January 2016.
The amendments will enter into force on 1 September 2015, and will be given effect through amendments to the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Air) Regulations.
4. MEPC 66 also adopted the following resolutions:
a. Resolution MEPC.242(66) – 2014 Guidelines in respect of the information to be submitted by an Administration to the Organization covering the certification of an Approved Method as required under Regulation 13.7.1 of MARPOL Annex VI;
The guidelines provide information to assist Administrations in submitting notification of certification of an Approved Method for applicable marine diesel engines as required under Regulation 13.7.1 of MARPOL Annex VI to the IMO.
b. Resolution MEPC.243(66) – 2014 Guidelines on the Approved Method process;
The guidelines provide information for understanding the Approved Method process and responsibilities in relation to Regulation 13.7.1 of MARPOL Annex VI.
c. Resolution MEPC.244(66) – 2014 Standard Specification for shipboard incinerators (supersedes MEPC.76(40), as amended by MEPC.93(45));
The guidelines prescribe the design, manufacture, performance, operation and testing of incinerators installed onboard ships. Incinerators with capacity up to 4000 kW can be type-approved under this standard specification.
d. Resolution MEPC.245(66) – 2014 Guidelines on the method of calculation of the Attained Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new ships (supersedes MEPC.212(63), as amended by MEPC.224(64));
The guidelines provide the method of calculation for the Attained EEDI as required under Regulation 20 of MARPOL Annex VI and are updated to incorporate several amendments such as EEDI calculation for ships with dual-fuel engines, LNG carriers with diesel-electric propulsion; use of dwt for size threshold of ro-ro passenger ships; and correction factors for various ship types.
5. In addition to the adoption of resolutions, the following Unified Interpretations (UI) of MARPOL was also approved:
a. MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.1 –Unified Interpretations to MARPOL Annex VI;
The circular consolidates all existing UI to MARPOL Annex VI, including those set out in previous circulars MEPC.1/Circ.735, MEPC.1/Circ.795, MEPC.1/Circ.795/Corr.1, MEPC.1/Circ.812, MEPC.1/Circ.813, MEPC.1/Circ.814, and the amendments approved at MEPC 66 regarding the clarification that decrease of assigned shipboard and temporary increase of assigned shipboard should not be considered as major conversion applicable to the energy efficiency requirements.
6. The Unified Interpretations (UI) listed in paragraph 5 are acceptable to MPA and should be applied with immediate effect.
7. The IMO has also disseminated IMO Circular Letter No. 3445, which consolidates draft amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, III and VI.
The draft amendments are expected to be adopted at MEPC 67 (Oct 2014). The shipping community is urged to consider the draft amendments and invited to provide comments and feedback as necessary.
8. The shipping community is urged to take early action to comply with the requirements on or before the date of entry into force of the amendments/resolutions.
