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The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is expected to adopt proposed amendments to the MARPOL Annex VI regulations to reduce harmful emissions from ships, when it meets for its 58th session from October 6th to 10th at IMO headquarters in London.

The committee also plans to continue its work on developing a mandatory regime to control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping.

The draft revised Annex VI to the MARPOL Convention was agreed at the last MEPC session in April. The main changes would see substantial reductions in sulphur oxide (SOx) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from ships.

The revised Annex VI allows for the designation of Emission Control Areas, for SOx and particulate matter, or NOx, or all three types of emissions from ships, in which more stringent controls would apply.

MARPOL Annex VI Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships entered into force in May 2005 and has, so far, been ratified by 52 countries, representing approximately 80.41 per cent of the gross tonnage of the world's merchant shipping fleet, according to the IMO.

The MEPC is also expected to adopt amendments to the NOx Technical Code, including a new Chapter 7 based on the agreed approach for NOx regulation of existing (pre-2000) engines established in the draft amended MARPOL Annex VI.

The draft amended NOx Code includes provisions for direct measurement and monitoring methods, a certification procedure for existing engines, and test cycles to be applied to specified engines.

A working group on GHG will be established to consider reduction mechanisms that may form part of a future IMO regime to control GHG emissions from international shipping, and to develop drafts of the actual reduction mechanisms themselves.

The meeting will have, for its consideration, phase 1 of the report of the updated IMO Study on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships, which has been completed by an international consortium of research institutes coordinated by MARINTEK of Norway.

The report of the first intersessional meeting of IMO's Working Group on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships, held in Oslo, Norway (23 to 27 June 2008), will also be considered by the committee.

The Oslo meeting looked at the idea of creating a mandatory CO2 Design Index for new ships and an interim CO2 Operational Index. It also held extensive discussions on best practices for voluntary implementation and working group members exchanged views on economic instruments with GHG-reduction potential.

Commenting on the issue of GHG emissions, the IMO said in a statement "Although, to date, no mandatory GHG instrument for international shipping has been adopted, IMO has given extensive consideration to the matter and is currently working in accordance with an ambitious work plan, due to culminate, in 2009, with the adoption of a binding instrument."

"IMO is working to have measures in place to control GHG emissions from international shipping before the first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol expires at the end of 2011."

The MEPC is also expected to consider the related legal aspects and decide whether the GHG regulations should form part of an existing convention or whether an entirely new instrument should be developed and adopted.

The committee will also decide on the work needed prior to the 59th MEPC meeting, to be held in July 2009, when final adoption of a coherent and comprehensive IMO regime to control GHG emissions from ships engaged in international trade is planned.