MEPC 62
At the sixty second session of the IMOs Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) held at the IMO this week, the Committee:
adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex IV (Development of Special Area provisions and the Designation of the Baltic Sea as a Special Area) and associated MEPC Resolution;
adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex V (Revised MARPOL Annex V) and associated MEPC Resolution;
adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex VI (Designation of the United States Caribbean Sea Emission Control Area) and associated MEPC Resolution.
Amendments to MARPOL Annex IV (Development of Special Area provisions and the Designation of the Baltic Sea as a Special Area). In summary, the amendments are as follows:
New paragraphs were added to Regulation 1, namely:
– New definition of a Special Area;
– The Baltic Sea Area being designated as a Special Area.
A new requirement for passenger ships while in a special area, to be equipped with either a sewage treatment plant, type approved by the Administration, taking into account the standards and test methods developed by the Organization, or a holding tank of the capacity to the satisfaction of the Administration for the retention of all sewage, having regard to the operation of the ship, the number of persons on board and other relevant factors.
Regulation 11 Discharge of sewage
– A Discharge of sewage from ships other than passenger ships in all areas and discharge of sewage from passenger ships outside special areas
1 Subject to the provisions of regulation 3 of this Annex, the discharge of sewage into the sea is prohibited, except when:
.1 the ship is discharging comminuted and disinfected sewage using a system approved by the Administration in accordance with regulation 9.1.2 of this Annex at a distance of more than 3 nautical miles from the nearest land, or sewage which is not comminuted or disinfected at a distance of more than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land, provided that, in any case, the sewage that has been stored in holding tanks, or sewage originating from spaces containing living animals, shall not be discharged instantaneously but at a moderate rate when the ship is en route and proceeding at not less than 4 knots, the rate of discharge shall be approved by the Administration based upon standards developed by the Organization; or
.2 the ship has in operation an approved sewage treatment plant which has been certified by the Administration to meet the operational requirements referred to in regulation 9.1.1 of this Annex.
Minor amendments were agreed to the International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate. These amendments will enter into force on 1 January 2013.
Amendments to MARPOL Annex V (Revised MARPOL Annex V). In summary, the amendments are as follows:
Regulation 1: Definitions
– New and revised definitions for certain categories of waste;
– Clarification of the term from the nearest land off the north-eastern coast of Australia, in way of a series of coordinates;
– The listing of each Special Area and an explanation of each.
Regulation 4: Discharge of garbage outside special areas
– 1.3 12 nautical miles from the nearest land for cargo residues that cannot be recovered using commonly available methods of unloading. These residues shall not contain any substances classified as harmful to the marine environment, taking into account guidelines developed by the Organization.
– 2 Cleaning agents or additives contained in cargo hold, deck and external surfaces wash water may be discharged into the sea, but these substances must not be harmful to the marine environment, taking into account the guidelines developed by the Organization.
Regulation 6: Discharge of garbage within special areas
– 2 Cleaning agents or additives contained in deck and external surfaces wash water may be discharged into the sea, but only if these substances are not harmful to the marine environment, taking into account guidelines developed by the Organization.
When in the Antarctic area:
– 3.1 The Government of each Party to this Annex at whose ports ships depart en route to or arrive from the Antarctic area undertakes to ensure that as soon as practicable, adequate facilities are provided for the reception of all garbage from all ships, without causing undue delay, and according to the needs of the ships using them;
– 3.2 The Government of each Party to this Annex shall ensure that all ships entitled to fly its flag, before entering the Antarctic area, have sufficient capacity on board for the retention of [all garbage] [garbage prohibited for discharge], while operating in the area and have concluded arrangements to discharge such garbage at a reception facility after leaving the area.
Regulation 7: Exceptions
– 7.1.1 The discharge of garbage from a ship necessary for the purpose of securing the safety of the ship and those on board or saving life at sea;
– 7.1.2 The accidental loss of garbage resulting from damage to a ship or its equipment, provided that all reasonable precautions have been taken before and after the occurrence of the damage, to prevent or minimize the accidental loss;
– 7.2.1 The en route requirements of regulations 4 and 6 shall not apply to the discharge of food wastes where it is clear the retention on board of these food wastes presents an imminent health risk to the people on board.
Regulation 10: Placards, garbage management plans and garbage record-keeping
– 1.1 Every ship of 12m or more in length overall and fixed or floating platforms shall display placards which notify the crew and passengers of the discharge requirements of regulations 3, 4, 5 and 6 of this Annex, as applicable;
– 1.2 The placards shall be written in the working language of the ships crew and, for ships engaged in voyages to ports or offshore terminals under the jurisdiction of other Parties to the Convention, shall also be in English, French or Spanish.
– 2 Every ship of 100 gross tonnage and above, and every ship which is certified to carry 15 or more persons, and fixed or floating platforms shall carry a Garbage Management Plan which the crew shall follow;
– 3 Every ship of 400 gross tonnage and above and every ship which is certified to carry 15 or more persons engaged in voyages to ports or offshore terminals under the jurisdiction of another Party to the Convention and every fixed or floating platform shall be provided with a Garbage Record Book.
These amendments will enter into force on 1 January 2013.
Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI (Designation of the United States Caribbean Sea Emission Control Area). In summary, the amendments are as follows:
– Paragraph 6 of Regulation 13 is replaced by new text. For the purpose of this regulation, emission control areas are stated as being the North American area and the United States Caribbean Sea area, and any other sea area, including any port area, designated by the Organization;
– Paragraph 7.3 of Regulation 13 is amended to read as follows With regard to a marine diesel engine with a power output of more than 5,000 kW and a per cylinder displacement at or above 90 litres installed on a ship constructed on or after 1 January 1990 but prior to 1 January 2000, the International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate shall, for a marine diesel engine to which paragraph 7.1 of this regulation applies, indicate that either an approved method has been applied pursuant to paragraph 7.1.1 of this regulation or the engine has been certified pursuant to paragraph 7.1.2 of this regulation or that an approved method does not yet exist or is not yet commercially available as described in paragraph 7.2 of this regulation.
– Paragraph 3 of Regulation 14 is replaced by new text. For the purpose of this regulation, emission control areas are stated as being the Baltic Sea area, the North American area, the United States Caribbean Sea area, and any other sea area, including any port area, designated by the Organization;
– A new sub-paragraph 4 is added to paragraph 4 of regulation 14 to read as follows:
.4 Prior to 1 January 2020, the sulphur content of fuel oil referred to in paragraph 4 of this regulation shall not apply to ships operating in the North American area [or the United States Caribbean Sea area] defined in paragraph 3.2 [or 3.3], built on or before [date of entry into force of the amendment] that are powered by propulsion boilers that were not originally designed for continued operation on marine distillate fuel or natural gas.
– Paragraph 7 of Regulation 14 is replaced by the following:
7 During the first twelve months immediately following entry into force of a specific emission control area under paragraph 3 of this regulation, ships operating in that emission control area are exempt from the requirements in paragraphs 4 and 6 of this regulation and from the requirements of paragraph 5 of this regulation in so far as they relate to paragraph 4 of this regulation.
– Appendix VII (Emission Control Areas regulation 13.6 and regulation 14.3) is amended. The boundaries of emission control areas designated under regulations 13.6 and 14.3, other than the Baltic Sea and the North Sea areas, are set forth in this appendix. Existing text for the North American area remains. An explanation and list of coordinates is provided for the United States Caribbean Sea area.
These amendments will enter into force on 1 January 2013.
Source : INTERTANKO