MEPC 73

MEPC 73 adopts non-compliant fuel carriage ban

At the last day of MEPC 73 on Friday, IMO adopted an amendment to support consistent implementation of the forthcoming 0.50% sulphur limit. The complementary MARPOL amendment will prohibit the carriage of non-compliant fuel oil for combustion purposes for propulsion or operation onboard – unless the ship has a scrubber fitted. The complementary amendment is expected to enter into force on 1 March 2020.

The amendment does not change in any way the entry into force date of the 0.50% limit from 1...

https://safety4sea.com/mepc-73-adopts-non-compliant-fuel-carriage-ban/

MEPC 73 marks progress towards Arctic HFO ban

IMO’s MEPC 73, which concluded on Friday, considered impact assessment methodology ahead of sending the ‘Scope of Work’- which sets out the work to be done to reduce the risks associated with the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil as fuel by ships in Arctic waters, including the proposal for a ban, to the on Pollution Prevention and Response subcommittee (PPR6) in February 2019.

Support for commencing work, to mitigate the risks of using and carrying HFO fuel in the Arctic which includes...

https://safety4sea.com/mepc-73-marks-progress-towards-arctic-hfo-ban/

MEPC 73 upholds EEDI targets for Ro-Ro vessels

IMO’s MEPC 73 decided to uphold previously agreed sector-specific Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) targets for Ro-Ro passenger and Ro-Ro freight vessels. The committee tightened EEDI requirements for certain ship types, but confirmed that ferries would be among the categories where it is appropriate to retain the original timeline and reduction rates. These had been set in three phases, requiring improvements of 10% by 2015, 20% by 2020 and 30% by 2025.

Global trade association Interferry...

https://safety4sea.com/mepc-73-upholds-eedi-targets-for-ro-ro-vessels/

Overview of MEPC 73 discussions

The IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) held its 73rd session from October 22 to 26, 2018 and focused on a number of areas to improve shipping’s environmental footprint.

Ban of carriage of non-compliant fuel oil

MEPC 73 banned the carriage of non-compliant fuel oil for combustion purposes for propulsion or operation on board a ship. The carriage prohibition does not apply to ships employing an alternative arrangement, like scrubbers. The ban will enter into force on 1 March 2020.

Bes...

https://safety4sea.com/overview-of-mepc-73s-discussions/

OMI: MEPC 73 – prohiben transporte de combustible pesado para propulsión

El comité para la protección del medio ambiente marino MEPC 73 de la OMI ha adoptado la enmienda del la convención MARPOL donde prohiben transporte de combustible pesado para propulsión conforme a la regla Azufre 2020 a bordo de los buques. Ver artículo explicatorio de la medida Azufre 2020 de la...

https://fullavantenews.com/omi-mepc73-prohiben-transporte-combustible-pesado-propulsion/?lang=es

MEPC73 rejects delay of high sulphur fuel carriage ban

The adoption of a ban on the carriage of bunkers above 0.50% sulphur is set to proceed, in spite a number of countries that wanted a delay. However, the majority of countries at MEPC73 have expressed their support for adopting it as early as possible, namely from 1 March, 2020.

MEPC 73 discussed a proposal from Bangladesh that called for a delay to implementing the carriage ban, as it concerned about the availability, safety and cost of compliant fuels.

Namely, Bangladesh said that the ban should...

https://safety4sea.com/mepc73-rejects-delay-of-high-sulphur-fuel-carriage-ban/

REMPEC: A Mediterranean SECA would bring health and environmental benefits

REMPEC, the IMO-administered marine pollution emergency response centre in the Mediterranean, has concluded a study to evaluate the costs and benefits of implementing a SECA in the Mediterranean region. It found that additional costs will be needed, but health and environmental benefits would be significant.

From 1 January 2020, IMO will require the reduction of the sulphur content allowed in ships’ fuel-oil, globally, to just 0.5%. This will result in important health benefits.

Except from the...

https://safety4sea.com/rempec-a-mediterranean-seca-would-bring-health-and-environmental-benefits/

France calls for Mediterranean ECA at IMO

On the sidelines of a side event of the MEPC 73 meeting at IMO headquarters, France presented the results of its impact assessment of a possible emission control area (ECA) in the Mediterranean Sea to minimize shipping emissions.

The findings revealed that a combined ECA which addresses sulphur and nitrogen oxides at the same time has the greatest positive effect in terms of reduced air pollutant concentrations as well as corresponding socio-economic and ecological benefits.

Environmentalists...

https://safety4sea.com/france-calls-for-mediterranean-eca-at-imo/

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