Marine Environment Protection
Transcript of Marine Environment Protection
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7 April 2008
The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) has approved proposed amendments to the MARPOL Annex VI
regulations to reduce emissions from ships. The revised regulation introduces a progressive
reduction of sulfur levels in heavy bunker fuelswith a final global cap of 0.5% sulfur effective
from 2020as well as more stringent Tier II and Tier III NOx emission standards for marine
engines.
The revised Annex includes a series of progressive standards in the regulation 14 Sulphur
Oxides (SOx) and Particulate Matter (PM) that would result in reduction of SOx and PM
emissions from ships. The principal elements are as follows:
the sulfur limit applicable in Emission Control Areas beginning on 1 March 2010would be 1.00% (10,000 ppm), reduced from the current 1.50% (15,000 ppm);
the global sulfur cap would be reduced to 3.50% (35,000 ppm), from the current
4.50% (45,000 ppm), effective from 1 January 2012;
the sulfur limit applicable in Emission Control Areas effective from 1 January 2015
would be 0.10 % (1,000 ppm);
the global sulfur cap would be reduced to 0.50% (5,000 ppm) effective from 1 January
2020, subject to a feasibility review to be completed no later than 2018. Should the
2018 review reach a negative conclusion, the effective date would default to 1 January
2025; and
introduction of a fuel availability provision under regulation 18 Fuel Oil Availability
and Qualitythat outlines what actions are appropriate should a ship be unable to
obtain the fuel necessary to comply with a given requirement under regulation 14.
The new regulation introduces a three-tier structure for NOx emission standards for new
marine engines, depending on the date of their installation, with significant emission
reductions (Tier III) mandated for ships operated within designated Emission Control Areas:
Tier I applies to a diesel engine which is installed on a ship constructed on or after 1
January 2000 and prior to 1 January 2011, and represents the 17 g/kWh standard
stipulated in the existing Annex VI.
For Tier II, NOx emission levels for a diesel engine installed from 1 January 2011
would be reduced to 14.4 g/kWh.
For Tier III, NOx emission levels for a diesel engine installed from 1 January 2016
would be reduced to 3.4 g/kWh, when the ship is operating in a designated Emission
Control Area. Outside a designated Emission Control Area, Tier II limits apply.
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The revised Annex VI will allow for an Emission Control Area to be designated for SOx and
PM, or NOx, or all three types of emissions from ships, subject to a proposal from a Party to
the Annex. Currently designated SOx Emission Control Areas include the Baltic Sea and the
North Sea. Future Emission Control Areas could also include zones around pollution sensitive
ports.
NOx standards have been also adopted for existing engines. A NOx emission limit of 17.0
g/kWh applies for a diesel engine with a power output of more than 5,000 kW and a
displacement per cylinder at, or above, 90 liters installed on a ship constructed on or after 1
January 1990 but prior to 1 January 2000.
The amendments introduce changes to the NOx Technical Code, to give a revised NOx
Technical Code 2008, which includes provisions for measurement and monitoring methods, a
certification procedure for existing engines, and test cycles to be applied to Tier II and Tier III
engines.
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 49 countries, representing approximately
74.77% of the gross tonnage of the worlds merchant shipping fleet.
The proposed draft amendments to Annex VI and the NOx Technical Code will now be
submitted to MEPC 58 (which meets from 6 to 10 October 2008) for adoption. This would see
the revised Annex VI enter into force in 2010.
The MEPC also endorsed a proposal to expedite the IMOs work on greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions, in particular as regards developing the CO2 Emission Indexing Scheme and the
CO2 Emission Baseline(s).
Source: IMO