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The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) meets for its 68th session from 11 to 15 May 2015, at IMO Headquarters in London.

During the session, MEPC is to discuss the final report regarding the availability of compliant fuel oil in January 2020; possible quality control measures prior to fuel oil being delivered to a ship; a report regarding the development of a data collection system for the fuel consumption of ships; air pollution and energy efficiency measures; oil spill guidelines; draft amendments concerning tanks for oil residues (sludge); and a definition for black carbon emissions from international shipping.

Sulphur review methodology to be considered

The MEPC will consider the final report of the correspondence group developing the methodology and terms of reference for the review, required under MARPOL Annex VI, regulation 14 (sulphur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter), of the availability of compliant fuel oil to meet the requirements set out in the regulation.

The sulphur content (expressed in terms of % m/m – that is, by weight) of fuel oil used on board ships 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 the review, this requirement could be deferred to 1 January 2025.

Within ECAs, fuel oil sulphur content must be no more than 0.10% m/m.

Fuel oil quality

The MEPC will consider the report of the correspondence group established to consider possible quality control measures prior to fuel oil being delivered to a ship.

Data collection system for fuel consumption

The MEPC will consider the report of a correspondence group established to develop draft text for a data collection system for fuel consumption of ships that can be used for voluntary or mandatory application of the system.

Revised air pollution guidance and requirements to be considered

The MEPC will consider a number of amendments and revisions to existing guidance and requirements related to air pollution measures, including:

- Draft amendments to the 2009 Guidelines for exhaust gas cleaning systems (resolution MEPC.184(59));

- Draft amendments to the NOX Technical Code 2008 to facilitate the testing of gas-fuelled engines and dual fuel engines for NOx Tier III strategy;

- Draft Guidance on the application of regulation 13 of MARPOL Annex VI Tier III requirements to dual fuel and gas-fuelled engines; and

- Draft amendments to the 2011 Guidelines addressing additional aspects to the NOX Technical Code 2008 with regard to particular requirements related to marine diesel engines fitted with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) Systems (resolution MEPC.198(62)).

Oil spill response guidance to be considered

The MEPC will consider, for approval, two sets of guidelines finalized by PPR 2 to assist in oil spill response:

Guidelines on international offers of assistance in response to a marine oil pollution incident – intended as a tool to assist in managing requests for spill response resources and offers for assistance from other countries and organizations when confronted with large, complex or significant oil spill incidents.

Guidelines for the use of dispersants for combating oil pollution at sea - Part III (Operational and technical sheets for surface application of dispersants). Parts I (Basic information) and II (National policy) of the IMO Dispersant Guidelines have already been approved and will be issued in conjunction with Part III, subsequent to its approval. Part IV, covering sub-sea dispersant application, is under development and will take into account the experience gained from the Deepwater Horizon incident as well as other related technical developments.

Black carbon definition to be considered

The MEPC will consider a definition for black carbon emissions from international shipping, as recommended by the Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR), at its second session.

MARPOL Annex I amendments relating to oil residues set for adoption

The MEPC will consider, with a view to adoption, draft amendments to regulation 12 of MARPOL Annex I, concerning tanks for oil residues (sludge).

The draft amendments update and revise the regulation, expanding on the requirements for discharge connections and piping to ensure oil residues are properly disposed of. A related revised unified interpretation to the regulation will also be put forward for adoption.

Further development of energy-efficiency guidelines for ships to be considered

The MEPC is expected to continue its work on further developing guidelines to assist in the implementation of the mandatory energy-efficiency regulations for international shipping.

Work during the session will include consideration of draft amendments to:

- The 2014 Guidelines on survey and certification of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI);

- The 2013 Interim Guidelines for determining minimum propulsion power to maintain the manoeuvrability of ships in adverse conditions; and

- The 2014 Guidelines on the method of calculation of the attained EEDI for new ships.

EEDI review and technology transfer

The Committee will consider a progress report from the correspondence group established to review the status of technological developments relevant to implementing phase 2 of the EEDI regulations, as required under regulation 21.6 of MARPOL Annex VI.

It will also receive a progress report from the Ad Hoc Expert Working Group on Facilitation of Transfer of Technology for Ships.

Polar Code environmental provisions set for adoption

The MEPC is expected to adopt the environmental requirements of the mandatory International Code for ships operating in polar waters (Polar Code), and the associated MARPOL amendments to make the Code mandatory. This follows the adoption, by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) in December 2014 of the Polar Code and related amendments to make it mandatory under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). The Polar Code is expected to enter into force on 1 January 2017.

The Polar Code covers the full range of design, construction, equipment, operational, training, search and rescue and environmental protection matters relevant to ships operating in waters surrounding the two poles.

Draft environmental provisions cover:

- Prevention of pollution by oil: discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixtures from any ship is prohibited. Oil fuel tanks must be separated from outer shell;

- Prevention of pollution by noxious liquid substances: discharge into the sea of noxious liquid substances, or mixtures containing such substances is prohibited;

- Prevention of pollution by sewage; discharge of sewage is prohibited unless performed in line with MARPOL Annex IV and requirements in the Polar Code; and

- Prevention of pollution by garbage: discharge of garbage is restricted and only permitted in accordance with MARPOL Annex V and requirements in the Polar Code.

The adoption of the Polar Code and associated MARPOL amendments at MEPC 68 would complete the process to make the Code mandatory under both the SOLAS and MARPOL treaties.

Status of UN climate change negotiations

The MEPC is expected to receive an update from the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on the status of global climate change negotiations ahead of the climate change conference (COP 21) in Paris, France (December 2015).

Extension of Great Barrier Reef PSSA to be considered

The MEPC will consider a proposal, submitted by Australia, to extend the eastern limit of the current Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) to encompass the south west part of the Coral Sea, part of Australia's Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve (CMR), a remote ocean ecosystem which provides refuge for a wide range of threatened, migratory and commercially valuable species.

The submission includes proposed associated protective measures in the form of new shipping routes, aimed at reducing the risk of ship collisions and groundings by separating opposing traffic streams, whilst ensuring ships keep clear of reefs, shoals and islets. The new shipping routes were agreed by IMO's Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR) in March, for submission to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) for adoption.

Image: IMO building in London.