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Source: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)

Resolutions adopted by the 67th session of the Maritime Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 67) of IMO.

1. This circular informs the shipping community on the outcome, including the resolutions adopted/approved by the 67th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 67) 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 67 final report which is available from the MPA website.

3. The mandatory resolution includes the following:

a. Resolution MEPC.256(67) - Amendments to Annex I of MARPOL 73/78;

This resolution amends Regulation 43 of MARPOL Annex I to prohibit the use of heavy grade oil as ballast on ships when operating in the Antarctic area with the exception to ships engaged in securing the safety of ships or in a search and rescue operation.

The amendments to MARPOL Annex I will enter into force on 1 March 2016, and will be given effect through amendments to the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Oil) Regulations.

b. Resolution MEPC.257(67) - Amendments to Annex III of MARPOL 73/78;

This resolution amends MARPOL Annex III in order to exclude the radioactive (class 7) material from Marine Pollutants/Environmentally Hazardous Substances.

The amendments to MARPOL Annex III will enter into force on 1 March 2016, and will be implemented through the IMDG Code under the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Regulations.

c. Resolution MEPC.258(67) - Amendments to Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78;

The resolution revise MARPOL Annex VI to include gas fuel and engines solely fuelled by gaseous fuels into the Regulation 2 (Definitions) and 13 (Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)) of MARPOL Annex V.

The amendments to MARPOL Annex VI will enter into force on 1 March 2016, and will be given effect through amendments to the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Air) Regulations.

4. MEPC 67 also adopted the following resolutions:

a. Resolution MEPC.252(67) - Guidelines for port state control under the BWM Convention.

The guidelines are intended to provide basic guidance for the conduct of a port State control (PSC) inspection to verify compliance with the requirements of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship's Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (BWM Convention). They are not intended to limit the rights the port State has in verifying compliance with the BWM Convention.

The Committee agreed to keep the guidelines under review following the trial period associated with the guidance in BWM.2/Circ.42, and the port States should refrain from applying criminal sanctions or detaining a ship, based on sampling during the trial period as described in the report of BLG 17 (BLG 17/18, annex 6).

b. Resolution MEPC.253(67) – Measures to be taken to facilitate entry into force of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediment, 2004;

The guidelines provide the elements to be included as a part of the review of the G8 Guidelines.

c. Resolution MEPC.254(67) - 2014 Guidelines on Survey and Certification of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) (revokes MEPC.214(63), as amended by resolution MEPC.234(65));

The guidelines provide shipowners, shipbuilders, manufacturers and other interested parties in understanding the procedures for survey and certification of the EEDI in accordance with regulations 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of MARPOL Annex VI.

d. Resolution MEPC.255(67) - Amendments to the 2013 Interim Guidelines for determining minimum propulsion power to maintain the manoeuvrability of ships in adverse conditions, adopted by Resolution MEPC.232(65).

The guidelines are amended to apply to ships that are required to comply with regulations on Energy Efficiency for Ships according to regulation 21 of MARPOL Annex VI during Phase 0 and Phase 1 (i.e. for those ship types as in table 1 of appendix with the size of equal or more than 20,000 DWT).

5. In addition to the adoption of resolutions, the following Unified Interpretations (UI) of MARPOL was also approved:

a. MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.2 - 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.795/Rev.1, MEPC.1/Circ.812.

MEPC.1/Circ.813, MEPC.1/Circ.814, and the UI approved at MEPC 67 seek clarification on the application of Regulation 18.5 of the MARPOL Annex VI.

6. The Unified Interpretations (UI) listed in paragraph 5 is acceptable to MPA and should be applied with immediate effect.

7. The IMO has also disseminated IMO Circular Letter No. 3495, which consolidates draft amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV and V. The draft amendments are expected to be adopted at MEPC 68 (May 2015). 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.

9. Any queries relating to this circular should be directed to Mr Ho Sin Gian (Tel: 6375 2424) and Mr Princet Ang (Tel: 6375 6259).

TAN SUAN JOW
DIRECTOR OF MARINE
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE

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MPA shipping circular - MEPC 67 resolutions