Tag: MARPOL

Say MPs More stringent limits are essential to cut sulphur emissions from ships, but the UK government must negotiate to ensure the EU Directive goes no further than the revised MARPOL Annex VI agreed in 2008, say MPs in a report examining a draft EU directive aimed at curbing this significant source of air pollution.Launching Sulphur emissions by ships, Louise Ellman, Chair of the Transport Committee said,"We endorse the Government's support for the more stringent regulation of sulphur emissions contained within the revised Annex VI because it will markedly improve air quality and deliver significant health and environmental benefits. These regulations were agreed on a worldwide basis through the International Maritime Organisation after several years of discussion.We believe that it's not appropriate for the Commission to go further than these globally-agreed limits by imposing tighter regulations on shipping operators at this time. We therefore endorse the UK Government's efforts to resist any additional requirements.We do not agree, however, with the Minister's assertion that the Government will not negotiate with the Commission on its proposals; the Government will have to forge alliances with other Member States. We recommend that UK negotiators focus on removing the tighter emissions limits for passenger ships ...

Worldwide 2.0% of the samples contained more than 3.50% but ARA precentages still high Testing service DNVPS says that worldwide, 2.0% of the bunker samples it tested between 4 and 17 February 2012 contained more than 3.50% m/m sulphur compared to 2.4% in the previous two weeks.DNVPS monitoring the development in the sulphur levels of commercial samples and its findings cover HFO samples, excluding low sulphur fuel samples, of all viscosity grades. As of 1 January 2012, the global sulphur limit was reduced to maximum 3.50% m/m in accordance with Regulation 14 of MARPOL Annex VI for ships not equipped with abatement technology or other compliance.According to DNVPS, ARA is still the area with the highest percentage of samples being supplied with sulphur concentrations above 3.50% m/m. Samples from Rotterdam came in at 14.3%, Antwerp 2.6% and Amsterdam 20.0%. Compared to the first week of 2012, Rotterdam has seen a marked improvement from the 57% reported by DNVPS. About 10% of the samples containing more than 3.50% sulphur have viscosity above 420cSt at 50C.However Singapore has seen an increase , to 3.6%, in the number of samples tested with more than 3.50% m/m sulphur, compared to 2.7% found in week ...

Republic of the Marshall Islands issues Marine Sarety Advisor No 14-12 The Republic of the Marshall Islands issues Marine Sarety Advisor No 14-12 regarding List Of Special Areas Under MARPOL And Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas as follows:Please be advised that the International Maritime Organization's (IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) has issued a new circular (MEPC.1/Circ.778) dated 26 January 2012 which lists the Special Areas under MARPOL and the Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas designated by MEPC.The MARPOL Convention defines certain sea areas as "Special Areas" in which, for technicalreasons relating to their oceanographical and ecological condition and to their sea traffic, the adoption of special mandatory methods for the prevention of sea pollution is required.Under the Convention, these Special Areas are provided with a higher level of protection than other sea areas. Under MARPOL Annex VI, such areas are called Emission Control Areas. Annex 1 (attached) to the circular contains a list of Special Areas and Emission Control Areas under MARPOL. It also provides information on the adoption date of amendments to the MARPOLAnnexes as appropriate and the date of entry into force for such amendments as well as the date when the more stringent measures took effect for the ...

EU Sulphur Directive new developments EU is in the process of amending its Sulphur Directive. The European Commission has presented its proposed amendments and these have to be considered and finally adopted by the EU Parliament. These proposed amendments were scrutinised by the EU Parliament Environmental (ENVI) Committee which this week presented its recommendations. The ENVI recommendations bring some good and some bad news.The bad news concerns additional suggested provisions above and beyond MARPOL Annex VI. It is suggested that, as from 2015, ships in all EU waters (i.e. territorial seas, pollution control zones and EEZ) should use fuels with a maximum sulphur content of 0.50% and, as from 2020, use fuels with a maximum sulphur content of 0.10%. If this suggestion is to be accepted in the final revision of the EU Sulphur Directive, ships trading to and from European ports will have to perform multiple fuel switching.The positive recommendations firstly safeguard against non-availability of fuel (a fuel availability clause in case of non-availability of compliant fuel is included mirroring Regulation 18 of MARPOL Annex VI), and secondly provide for more regular fuel sampling at the time of delivery to the vessel (sampling should be done on the fuel ...

IMO MEPC.1/Circ 778 IMO issues Circular MEPC.1/Circ 778 regarding List of Areas Under MARPOL and Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas as follows:The MARPOL Convention defines certain sea areas as "Special Areas" in which, for technical reasons relating to their oceanographical and ecological condition and to their seatraffic, the adoption of special mandatory methods for the prevention of sea pollution is required.Under the Convention, these Special Areas are provided with a higher level of protection than other sea areas. They are designated by IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) by amendments to the relevant MARPOL Annexes.There are such areas under MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV and V. Under MARPOL Annex VI, such areas are called Emission Control Areas.Annex 1 to this circular contains a list of Special Areas and Emission Control Areas under MARPOL. It also provides information on the adoption date of amendments to the MARPOL Annexes as appropriate and the date of entry into force for such amendments as well as the date when the more stringent measures took effect for the Special Areas.You may view the MEPC1/Circ 778 by clicking here.Source: IMO

The Isle of Man Ship Registry issues Marine Notice The Isle of Man Ship Registry issues Marine Notice re Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships as follows:The Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships) Regulations 2003 implement Annex IV of MARPOL 73/78 - Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships.This Notice provides information on the technical requirements, where Annex IV provides discretion to the Administration, for ships to comply with the Isle of Man implementation of Annex IV of MARPOL 73/78, the key requirements being: Acceptable sewage systems, standard dimensions of flanges for discharge connections and the Isle of Man "moderate rate of discharge of sewage from a holding tank".In addition, this Notice provides guidance on the interpretation of 'special circumstances' in which a new Certificate need not be dated from the date of expiry of the existing Certificate, but from the date of completion of the survey.For more information, click here.Source: The Isle of Man Ship Registry

Amendments to the Supplement in which heat units are the measure of incinerator Since 1 January 2011 the incinerator capacity to be given on the IOPP certificate has been an issue of discussion among PSC, class societies and others. This newsletter tries to describe the situation, the DNV practise and the way forward.The 2006 MARPOL consolidated version, MARPOL Annex I, Appendix II, describes the form of the IOPP Certificate and Supplements. Under section 3.2.1 of both Form A (Ships other than Oil Tankers) and Form B (Oil Tankers), the incinerator capacity is stated in l/h.However, Resolution MEPC.187(59), annex 2, which entered into force on 1 January 2011, introduced amendments to the Supplement in which heat units are the measure of incinerator capacity in kW or kcal/h.Resolution MEPC.76(40) on the Standard Specification for Shipboard Incinerators stipulates that kW, kcal/h or kg/h should be recorded on the incinerator type approval certificate. This applies to the certificate for incinerators type approved after September 1997.DNV is now experiencing that the use of different units of measurement in the above mentioned regulation and resolutions is causing confusion among crews, Port State Control Officers and Recognized Organizations.DNV has recently noted that Port State Control officers are ...

The situation, the DNV practise and the way forward Since 1 January 2011 the incinerator capacity to be given on the IOPP certificate has been an issue of discussion among PSC, class societies and others. This newsletter tries to describe the situation, the DNV practise and the way forward.The 2006 MARPOL consolidated version, MARPOL Annex I, Appendix II, describes the form of the IOPP Certificate and Supplements. Under section 3.2.1 of both Form A (Ships other than Oil Tankers) and Form B (Oil Tankers), the incinerator capacity is stated in l/h.However, Resolution MEPC.187(59), annex 2, which entered into force on 1 January 2011, introduced amendments to the Supplement in which heat units are the measure of incinerator capacity in kW or kcal/h.Resolution MEPC.76(40) on the Standard Specification for Shipboard Incinerators stipulates that kW, kcal/h or kg/h should be recorded on the incinerator type approval certificate. This applies to the certificate for incinerators type approved after September 1997.DNV is now experiencing that the use of different units of measurement in the above mentioned regulation and resolutions is causing confusion among crews, Port State Control Officers and Recognized Organizations.DNV has recently noted that Port State Control officers are relying on the MEPC.187(59) ...

MPA Singapore issues Circular 2/2012 The MPA Singapore issues Circular 2/2012 regarding the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea as follows:This circular informs the Shipping Community that the Prevention ofPollution of the Sea (Air) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 will enter into force on February 2012.The Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Air) (Amendment) Regulationsgives effect to Resolution MEPC.194(61). This Resolution deals with theamendment to Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78 by revising the Supplement to theIAPP Certificate, to clearly document the ship's compliance with the fuel sulphurrequirements or alternative equivalent arrangement according to the timeframe under Regulation 14 of MARPOL Annex VI. Shipping Circular No. 20 of 2011 provides further information on this Resolution.The Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Air) (Amendment) Regulations(See Attachment) were published in the Government Gazette on 18January 2012.For more information, click here.Source: MPA Singapore

IMO Regulations for shipping International Maritime Organization (IMO) has made the following regulations mandatory for the international Shipping:1.Sulphur limit in the fuel oil is reduced to 3.5% from 4.5% applicable from 1st January, 2012.2. Sulphur limit in the fuel oil is reduced to 1% from 1.5% in Emission Control Area (ECA) - applicable since 1st July, 2010.The proposed regulation by International Maritime Organization sets a required 'Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI)' value to apply in four phases from 1st January, 2013 to 1st January, 2025.Government has approved ratification of MARPOL* Annex VI so as to avail the waiver of the requirements of compliance with the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI). Parties to the MARPOL Annex VI have the option to waive the EEDI requirement on their ships for a maximum of 4.0 to 6.5 years after the entry into force.Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has already been advised the requirement of the IMO regarding maximum limit of sulphur in fuel oil for ships.Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India