An IMO working group has recently agreed a set of draft guidelines to support mandatory measures to cut the carbon intensity of all ships.
Namely, the proposed mandatory measures have already been approved by IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) and are expected to be adopted when the MEPC meets for its 76th session from 10-17 June, 2021.
The proposed amendments to the MARPOL Convention would require ships to combine a technical and an operational approach to reduce their carbon intensity. This is in line with the ambition of the Initial IMO GHG Strategy, which aims to reduce carbon intensity of international shipping by 40% by 2030, compared to 2008.
These are two new measures: the technical requirement to reduce carbon intensity, based on a new Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI); and the operational carbon intensity reduction requirements, based on a new operational carbon intensity indicator (CII).
Specifically, the dual approach aims to address both technical (how the ship is equipped and retrofitted ) and operational measures (how the ship operates).
The Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 8), which met remotely from 24-28 May, agreed, for consideration by the Committee, with a view to adoption on the following comprehensive set of guidelines accompanying the new requirements:
- draft 2021 Guidelines on the method of calculation of the attained energy efficiency existing ship index (EEXI);
- draft 2021 Guidelines on survey and certification of the energy efficiency existing ship index (EEXI);
- draft 2021 Guidelines on the shaft / engine power limitation system to comply with the EEXI requirements and use of a power reserve;
- draft 2021 Guidelines on operational carbon intensity indicators and the calculation methods (CII Guidelines, G1);
- draft 2021 Guidelines on the reference lines for use with operational Carbon Intensity Indicators (CII reference lines guidelines, G2);
- draft 2021 Guidelines on the operational carbon intensity reduction factors relative to reference lines (CII Reduction factor Guidelines, G3);
- draft 2021 Guidelines on the operational Carbon Intensity rating of ships (CII rating guidelines, G4).
The amendments to MARPOL Annex VI and this accompanying detailed set of guidelines provide important tools for Administrations and industry to implement the new requirements, and building blocks for future energy efficiency measures.
For the record, the draft amendments would require the IMO to review the effectiveness of the implementation of the CII and EEXI requirements, by 1 January 2026 at the latest, and, if necessary, develop and adopt further amendments. IMO’s Initial GHG Strategy is to be revised by 2023. Concluding, the MEPC 76 session meets in remote session 10-17 June 2021.
