Aside from GHG discussions what kept attendees at the 82nd meeting of the MEPC busy?

Published: 04 October 2024

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Review of CII continues 

MEPC 82 agreed a way forward to address the challenges with the CII regulations. Whilst the review was intended to be concluded before 1 January 2026, the Committee agreed that solving the challenges will likely require more time. It was therefore agreed to carry out the work using a two-phased approach. Some of the work initiated in the first phase may not be concluded before 1 January 2026 and may be extended. 

Indicatively, member states agreed to start on the following considerations in the first phase: 

• How to exclude idle time and port waiting time from the CII calculation, as well as revision of CII reference lines
• How to adjust for how short voyages penalise the CII calculation
• If CII can be improved to incentivise port call efficiency and Just-In-Time (JIT) arrival of ship
• A new CII metric and CII reference lines for cruise ships
• A possible enhanced Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) framework to allow for robust individual ship-based assessment of operational energy efficiency performance
• CII reduction (Z) factors for the years 2027 to 2030
• Possible enhancement of the enforcement mechanism (hard enforcement through Port State Control (PSC)).  

The work will continue by correspondence and an intersessional working group and we will continue to participate.

Higher granularity of fuel consumption data to be reported to IMO

The previous session of MEPC (MEPC 81), held in March 2024, adopted a revised Appendix IX of MARPOL Annex VI, containing the data points ships shall collect and report to their flag state, or a recognised organisation (RO), for onward reporting to IMO’s Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Data Collection System (IMO DCS). The amendments will enter into force and, therefore, become mandatory from 1 August 2025, but flag states are encouraged to apply the enhance the granularity of data points from 1 January 2025.  

At this session, the Committee agreed to a unified interpretation  on guidance on the application of the amendments to Appendix IX of MARPOL Annex VI. The intention is to maintain a uniform data granularity throughout the calendar year 2025. Therefore, all data portions for the calendar year 2025 are to be collected and reported at the same level of granularity, depending on whether flag states apply the revised Appendix IX of MARPOL Annex VI from 1 January 2025 or 1 August 2025. If first applied in national legislation from 1 August, then the higher granularity of data collection and reporting will be required from 1 January 2026. The guidance will be issued as an MEPC Circular and made available to members when published.  

Prior to collecting data specified in the revised Appendix IX of MARPOL Annex VI, each ship is required to have its SEEMP revised to ensure compliance with regulation 26.2 of MARPOL Annex VI.  

Revised guidelines on underwater radiated noise (URN) approved 

The MEPC approved amendments to the Revised Guidelines for the Reduction of Underwater Radiated Noise from Shipping to address the adverse impacts on marine life, which now include a reference chart to support implementation including details on URN Management Planning. The planning is intended to be a flexible tool that allows for a customised approach which can be modified to address specific contexts. The updated circular will be made available to members when published by the IMO.  

Additionally, the Committee agreed to retain URN on its agenda with a particular focus on the experience building phase, studies related to the issues and the relationship between URN and energy efficiency.  

To support uptake of the guidelines representatives of shipowners and managers including BIMCO, IACS class Societies, and European and Far East shipyards have recently formed a Tripartite Working Group (WG) to encourage URN reduction through voluntary measures, and to leverage the strong synergy between energy efficiency and noise reduction. BIMCO members are encouraged to complete a joint industry survey to support the group in its deliberations.  

Survey to confirm the uptake of Underwater Radiated Noise (URN) reduction measures (jotform.com) 

Ongoing review of Ballast Water Management Convention & Code

A Ballast Water Review group continued discussions on the review of the Ballast Water Management Convention which is due to be completed towards the end of 2026. Discussions incorporated the circumstances under which the discharge of unmanaged or partially managed ballast water and sediments may be allowed on the high seas or in designated areas, the most efficient and effective approach to BWMS maintenance procedures and records, standardisation of data logs and export files of BWMS, establishment of BWMS testing parameters and conditions, noting the need for improving testing conditions, reporting, and standardised procedures and modifications to BWMS with existing type approval, ensuring that the effectiveness and safety of the BWMS are maintained. 

Consideration and reporting of Disinfection By-Products (DBPs), including sampling and analysis during surveys is a topic of emerging concern but on this occasion the group recognised that the matter was not mature enough for consideration under the ongoing review of the convention and recommended inviting concrete proposals for separate consideration. 

Amendments to the Guidance on Ballast Water Record-Keeping and Reporting (BWM.2/Circ.80) were discussed which included adding scenarios related to challenging water quality conditions, aiming to improve the accuracy and consistency of record-keeping and reporting. The revised circular BWM.2/Circ.80/Rev.1 was approved by the Committee and will be made available to members when published by the IMO. Operational challenges encountered by ships, particularly in challenging water quality conditions remain a focus for the group. With this in mind members are reminded that INTERTANKO has collected information on ports with challenging water quality and subsequently developed a database open to all stakeholders.

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