MARPOL ANNEX I
- MEPC Resolution 248(66), reference (g) adopted amendments to Regulation 28 of MARPOL Annex I requiring oil tankers constructed before 1 January 2016 to carry a stability instrument capable of verifying compliance with intact & damage stability requirements approved the Administration at the first scheduled renewal survey on or after 1 January 2016 but no later than 1 January 2021.
- MEPC Resolution 265 (68), reference (j) adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex I related to implementation of the relevant chapters in the Polar Code, which entered into force on 1 January 2017.
- Chapter 1 of part II-A of the Polar Code, reference Prohibits the discharge of oil or oily mixtures from the machinery spaces and cargo areas of any ship when operating in Arctic waters, in addition to Regulation 15.4 and 34.3 of MARPOL Annex I for Antarctic waters.
- MEPC Resolution 266(68), reference (k) further accepted amendments to Regulation 12 of MARPOL Annex I requiring ships constructed before 1 January 2017 to comply with the sludge tank discharge piping (i.e. no discharge connections to the bilge system, oily bilge water holding tank(s), tank top or oily water separators) not later than the first renewal survey carried out on or after 1 January 2017.
- Regulation 12 of MARPOL Annex 1
- Tanks for Oil Residues (Sludge) (MEPC.266(68)) – the amendments apply to all new vessels (>400 GT) as of 1 January 2017.
- Existing ships <400 GT must follow no later than the first renewal survey carried out on or after 1 January 2017.
- The oil residue tanks should have no discharge connections to the bilge system, oily bilge water holding tank, tank top or oily water separators with the following two exceptions Tanks may be installed with drains that lead to an oily bilge water holding tank or bilge well or they may be fitted with an alternative arrangement,provided that this arrangement does not connect directly to the bilge piping system. The sludge tank discharge line and bilge water line may be connected to a common discharge connection provided it does not allow for the transfer of sludge to the bilge system.
- Electronic ORB MEPC 74 th session ,17 May 2019 MARPOL amendments – use of electronic record books
- MARPOL Amendments to permit for electronic record books to be used were adopted, for Annex I – Oil Record Book Part I – Machinery space operations and Oil Record Book Part II – Cargo or ballast operations; Annex II – Cargo Record Book; and Annex V – Garbage Record Book; and Annex VI for records relating to Regulation 12 – Ozone-depleting substances, Regulation 13 – Nitrogen oxides (NOX) and Regulation 14 – Sulphur oxides (SOX) and particulate matter. The assumed entry into force date is 1 October 2020. The MEPC also adopted related Guidelines for the use of electronic record books under MARPOL.
MARPOL ANNEX II
1 January 2021 – MARPOL amendments – Cargo residues and tank washings of constant floating noxious liquid substances.
Adopted by MEPC 74: Amendments to MARPOL Annex II to strengthen, in specified sea areas, discharge requirements for cargo residues and tank washings containing persistent floating products with a high-viscosity and/or a high melting point that can solidify under certain conditions (e.g. certain vegetable oils and paraffin-like cargoes), following concerns about the environmental impact of permissible discharges.
The amendments add new paragraphs to MARPOL Annex II Regulation 13 – Control of discharges of residues of noxious liquid substances, to require prewash and discharge of residue/water mixture generated during the prewash to a reception facility, for specific products, in specified areas (North West European waters, Baltic Sea area, Western European waters and Norwegian Sea)
MEPC Resolution 265 (68), reference (j) adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex II related to implementation of the relevant chapters in the Polar Code, which enters into force on 1 January 2017.
Chapter 2 of part II-A of the Polar Code, reference (i) · Prohibits any discharge into the sea of noxious liquid substances or mixtures containing such substances, in addition to Regulation 13.8 of MARPOL Annex II, prohibiting discharge of noxious liquid substances or mixtures containing such substances in Antarctic waters.
- Requires authorization by the Administration for carriage of noxious liquid substances by category A and B ships, as type 3 ships constructed on or after 1 January 2017 and part II-B of the Polar Code provides recommended guidance on tank separation for these ships.
- Requires operation in polar waters to be considered, as appropriate, in the Cargo Record Book, the Procedures and Arrangements Manual and the shipboard marine pollution emergency plan for noxious liquid substances & the shipboard marine pollution emergency plan as required by MARPOL Annex II reference give guidance regarding reissue of certificates and revisions of manuals and record books for compliance with the environmental associated provisions of the Polar Code.
MARPOL ANNEX IV
1. MEPC Resolutions 274(69) & 275(69), references (l) and (m) set the entry into effect dates for the new discharge regulations of sewage from passenger ships in the Baltic Sea special area:
- 1 June 2019 for new passenger ships for whom the building contract is placed, or in the absence of a building contract, the keel of which is laid, or which is in equivalent stage of construction, on or after 1 June 2019; or the delivery of which is on or after 1 June 2021.
- 1 June 2021 for prevailing passenger ships; and 1 June 2023 for existing passenger ships en route directly to or from a port located outside the special area and to or from a port detected east of longitude 28˚10′ E within the special area that do not make any other port calls within the special area.
MEPC Resolution 227(64), as amended, reference (e) provided revised guidelines on implementation of effluent standards and performance tests for sewage treatment plants installed on or after 1 January 2016 on ships, other than passenger ships, in all areas; fitted on or after 1 January 2016 on passenger ships outside MARPOL Annex IV special areas; · fitted on or after 1 June 2019 on new passenger ships in MARPOL Annex IV special areas; fitted on or after 1 June 2021 on existing passenger ships in MARPOL Annex IV special areas; and fitted on or after 1 June 2023 for existing passenger ships en route directly to or from a port located outside the special area and to or from a port located east of longitude 28˚10′ E inside the special area that do not make any other port calls within the special area.
3. MEPC Resolution 265 (68), reference (j) adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex IV related to implementation of the relevant chapters in the Polar Code, which enters into force on 1 January 2017.
Chapter 4 of part II-A of the Polar Code, reference
(i) Prohibits the discharges of sewage inside polar waters, except when performed in accordance with MARPOL Annex IV and under certain conditions.
(ii) Prohibits the discharges of sewage in polar waters from category A and B ships constructed on or after 1 January 2017 and all passenger ships constructed on or after 1 January 2017, with the exception of when such discharges are in compliance with paragraph 4.2.1.3 of part II-A of the Polar Code.
(iii) Prohibits the discharges of sewage from category A and B ships that operate in polar waters with ice concentrations exceeding 1/10 for extended periods of time, except when the ship has functional sewage treatment plant endorsed by the governing Administration to meet the operational requirements in either regulation 9.1.1 or 9.2.1 of MARPOL Annex IV and the discharges shall be subjected to the approval by the Administration.
MEPC 1 / Circular 856 gives instructions regarding reissue of certificates and revisions of manuals and record books for compliance with the environmental related provisions of the Polar Code. Vessel owners are persuaded to contact their class society regarding verification of compliance with Annex IV.
MARPOL ANNEX V
- The amendments to MARPOL Annex V adopted at MEPC 70 will enter into force on 1 March 2018. The changes comprises norms to decide whether the cargo residues are harmful to the marine environment, and a new Garbage Record Book format with a new garbage category for e-waste.
- This news provides a summary of the latest regulations. The main amendments added in MARPOL Annex V, which was adopted at MEPC 70, cover: Declaration of cargo residues.
- Cargo remains those are not dangerous to the marine environment has less strict discharge requirements than cargo residues which are harmful.
- Solid bulk cargo according to regulation VI/1-1.2 of SOLAS, apart from grain, shall now be classified per the criteria in the new appendix I of MARPOL Annex V, and the shipper shall then declare as to whether or not the cargo is dangerous to the environment (HME).
- Garbage Record Book
A new form of the Garbage Record Book has been included in appendix II to MARPOL Annex V. - The Garbage Record Book(GRB) will be divided into two parts:
- Part I for all garbage other than cargo remains, applicable to all ships
- • Part II for cargo remains only applicable to ships carrying solid bulk cargo.
- The GRB garbage categories have also been amended to include e-waste1), and the category for cargo residues has been split into HME (harmful to the marine environment) and non-HME. The new garbage categories will be as follows:
A. Plastics
B. Food waste
C. Domestic wastes
D. Cooking oil
E. Incinerator ashes
F. Operational waste
G. Animal carcasses
H. Fishing gear
I. E-waste
J. Cargo residues (non-HME)
K. Cargo residues (HME) - The GRB(Garbage Record Book) discharge table has also been revised, as both incineration start & stop date/time/position shall be recorded. A new table is added for disclosing exceptional discharge or loss of garbage under regulation 7, also covering the reason for the discharge or loss, details there of and precautions taken.
The new GRB(Garbage Record Book) part II for solid bulk cargo residues includes entries for position or port, garbage category (J or K), amount discharged to sea or reception facilities, and start and stop positions for sea discharge. - Along with the GRB, receipts obtained from receptions facilities will also be required to be kept on board for at least two years.
- In fact Annex V of MARPOL is mandatory for all ships, there are neither certification nor approval requirements.
- Ultimately, the current 2012 Guidelines for the enforcement of MARPOL Annex V has been revoked by the new 2017 Guidelines, aligning it with the MARPOL amendments and relevant requirements of the Polar Code.
- E-waste is an electronic & electrical instruments which is utilized for the normal working of the ship, including all components, sub-assemblies and consumables which are part of the equipment at the time of scrapping, with the presence of material potentially hazardous to human health and/or the environment.
- To ensure agreement prior to 1 March 2018, a Garbage Record Book with the new format should be provided on board. Placards and Garbage Management Plans can be revised as necessary to satisfy the amendments to MARPOL Annex
• MEPC.277(70) Amendments to MARPOL Annex V
• MEPC.295(71) 2017 Guidelines for the enforcement of MARPOL Annex V
• MEPC.220(63) Guidelines for the preparation of garbage management plans
MARPOL ANNEX VI
Adopted by MEPC 71:
- Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI to identify the North Sea and the Baltic Sea as emission control areas (ECAs) for nitrogen oxides (NOX) under regulation 13 of MARPOL Annex VI. Both ECAs will come into force on 1 January 2021, thereby considerably lowering emissions of NOx from international shipping in those areas.
- Amendments to the information is to be included in the bunker delivery note relating to the supply of marine fuel oil to ships which have fitted alternative mechanisms to address sulphur emission requirements.
- 1 September 2019 MARPOL Annex VI amendments
Amendment to Regulation 13 – Nitrogen oxides (NOX) to make clear emission control areas for NOx, by replacing the words “an emission control area assigned under paragraph 6 of this regulation” with “a NOX Tier III emission control area(ECA)”; - Amendments to Regulation 21 – Required EEDI to update the reference values for Ro-ro cargo ship and Ro-ro passenger ship.
- 1 January 2020, MARPOL Annex VI 0.50% sulphur limit enters into effect.
- The global limit for sulphur in fuel oil used on board ships of 0.50% m/m (mass by mass) enters into effect from 1 January 2020 then, this will remarkably decrease the proportion of SOx originating from ships and should have major health and environmental benefits for the world, particularly for populations living close to ports and coasts.
- 1 March 2020 – MARPOL Annex VI amendments – carriage ban on fuel oil which are non-compliant
Adopted by MEPC 73: The amendment will prohibit the carriage of non-compliant fuel oil for combustion purposes for propulsion or operation on board a ship – unless the ship has an exhaust gas cleaning system (“scrubber”) fitted, if accepted by the flag State as an alternative means to meet the sulphur limit requirement.
The amendment prefer consistent implementation of the 0.50% limit on sulphur in ships fuel oil. The 0.50% limit on sulphur in ship’s fuel oil is in force from 1 January 2020, with benefits for the environment and human health.
1 October 2020 MARPOL amendments – use of electronic record books
Adopted by MEPC 73: MARPOL Amendments to allow for electronic record books to be used were adopted, for Annex I – Oil Record Book Part I – Machinery space operations & Oil Record Book(ORB) Part II – Cargo/ballast operations; Annex II – Cargo Record Book; and Annex V – Garbage Record Book; and Annex VI for records relating to Regulation 12 – Ozone-depleting substances, Regulation 13 – Nitrogen oxides (NOX) and Regulation 14 – Sulphur oxides (SOX) and particulate matter. Guidelines for the use of electronic record books under MARPOL have been adopted.
1 October 2020 – MARPOL amendments – EEDI regulations for the ice-strengthened ships
Adopted by MEPC 73: Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, relating to the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) regulations for the ice-strengthened ships, replacing the words “cargo ships having ice-breaking capability” with “category A ships” as defined in the Polar Code book.
