The International Maritime Organization (IMO) MEPC 81 is about to open Major focus on medium-term measures to reduce ships/vessels GHG emissions
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) MEPC 81 is about to open Major focus on medium-term measures to reduce ships/vessels GHG emissions
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) will hold the 81st session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 81) from March 18 to March 22.
CR stated that the meeting continued the resolution of MEPC 80 in July last year that "the shipping industry must achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050", and further discussed specific implementation plans. For the technical measures that have been agreed by Member States, namely the Goal-Based Marine Fuel Standard (GFS) scheme (Figure 1), the implementation details will be discussed, including the applicable ship type, tonnage, emission reduction ratio at each stage, and flexible supporting measures (such as collective compliance, storage quota), etc. In terms of economic measures, the drafts developed fall into two main categories, with some Member States supporting its integration with GFS, imposing fees on those who do not comply with the greenhouse gas emission intensity and giving back to those who are better than in compliance (Figure 2); The other prefers to impose emission charges on fuels that are fit for zero (or near-zero) greenhouse gas emissions, and give them back to those who use zero-greenhouse gas (or near-zero-emission) fuels (Figure 3). The final concrete plan is expected to complete the assessment report at MEPC 82 at the end of the year, and approve the amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) in MEPC 83 in the first half of next year, which will officially enter into force in 2027.
CR added that, the meeting is expected to discuss key issues related to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM), including: the adoption of amendments to the BWM Convention to allow the use of electronic log books, discussion of guidelines for temporary storage of greywater and treated effluent in ballast water tanks; Topics also includes challenging water quality (CWQ) in ports, which makes it difficult to operate ballast water management systems (BWMS). In addition, two new draft sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide emission control zones from Canada and Norway will be considered.
In order to assist all sectors of shipping industry to understand the latest international trend of ship greenhouse gas emission reduction in real time, CR is expected to release a summarized report on the conclusion of the meeting on March 23, and synchronously summarize the key content of MEPC 81.
Figure 1: Targeted Marine Fuel Standard (GFS) scheme: to require the greenhouse gas intensity of
fuel/energy used level of ships/vessels shall not exceed the regulated standard of IMO in each calendar year,
and reduces the greenhouse gas emissions of ships on international routes through gradual tightening measurement.
Figure 2: Integrating economic measures with GFS to impose a fee on those who do not comply
with the greenhouse gas emission intensity and giving back to those who are better than in compliance
Figure 3: Emission charges are levied on fuels that are not fitting for zero (or near-zero)
greenhouse gas emissions and rewarded to those who use zero (or near-zero) greenhouse gas fuels
