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New MARPOL amendments adopted by resolution MEPC.286(71): inclusion of two new emissions control areas (ECAs) for nitrogen oxide (NOx) and information change of bunker delivery note (BDN)

Amendments to regulation 13 of MARPOL Annex VI (NOx)

The Baltic Sea and the North Sea ECAs, currently ECAs for SOx, will be extended to also cover NOx. As of 1 January 2019, all the four1 ECAs under MARPOL will cover both SOx and NOx. This implies that engines with a power output of more than 130 kW, to be installed on vessels constructed on or after 1 January 2021, must be Tier III certified if they are operated inside the Baltic Sea and the North Sea ECAs. The same will apply for non-identical replacement engines or additional engines installed on existing ships on or after 1 January 2021.

The amended regulation also temporarily exempts the Tier III requirement to allow ships fitted with dual-fuel engines or with only Tier II engines to be built, converted, repaired and/or maintained at shipyards located inside NOx ECAs.

Amendments to Appendix V of MARPOL Annex VI (BDN)

Regulation 18.5 of MARPOL Annex VI requires ships of 400 GT and above to have on board a BDN which records details of fuel oil delivered and used on board for combustion purposes. The minimum information to be included in the BDN is specified in Appendix V of MARPOL Annex VI.

In Appendix V, the current paragraph

“A declaration signed and certified by the fuel oil supplier’s representative that the fuel oil supplied is in conformity with the applicable subparagraph of regulation 14.1 or 14.4 and regulation 18.3 of this Annex.”

has been replaced by

“A declaration signed and certified by the fuel oil supplier’s representative that the fuel oil supplied is in conformity with regulation 18.3 of this Annex and that the sulphur content of the fuel oil supplied does not exceed:

  • the limit value given by regulation 14.1 of this Annex;
  • the limit value given by regulation 14.4 of this Annex; or
  • the purchaser’s specified limit value of _____ (% m/m), as completed by the fuel oil supplier’s representative and on the basis of the purchaser’s notification that the fuel oil is intended to be used:

.1 in combination with an equivalent means of compliance in accordance with regulation 4 of this Annex; or

.2 is subject to a relevant exemption for a ship to conduct trials for sulphur oxides emission reduction and control technology research in accordance with regulation 3.2 of this Annex.

The declaration shall be completed by the fuel oil supplier’s representative by marking the applicable box(es) with a cross (x).”

IMO sends out circular providing guidance on how to prepare a ship-specific implementation plan to comply with the  2020 0.50% sulphur cap

The guidance, approved at MEPC.73, was recently issued as MEPC.1/Circ.878. The plan is meant as a tool for a ship in preparing for the 2020 0.50% sulphur cap and may serve as documentation towards PSC when verifying compliance.

It is not a mandatory requirement. However, it is recommend having such a plan. The recommendations include:  

  • keeping in mind the amendments to regulation 13 of MARPOL Annex VI when planning for newbuilds intending to operate inside the Baltic Sea and the North Sea ECAs
  • when taking bunkers after 1 January 2019, make sure that BDNs received by the bunker supplier are up-to-date
  • when preparing for the new 2020 sulphur cap, consider keeping a ship-specific implementation plan

 

References: MEPC.286(71) - MEPC.1/Circ.878

Source: DNV GL-Maritime