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Draft amendments to revise the MARPOL
regulations on the prevention of air pollution
from ships were agreed by the IMO Sub-Committee
on Bulk Liquids and Gases (BLG) which met early
this month in London.
Following lengthy and technically challenging
discussions in the Air Pollution Working Group,
the Sub-Committee agreed a draft revised Annex
VI to the MARPOL Convention and amendments to
the NOx Technical Code. These will now be
submitted to the Marine Environment Protection
Committee (MEPC), which meets for its 57th
session from 31 March to 4 April 2008 said
Secretary-General Mitropoulos.
Meanwhile the sub-committee on NOx regulations
for new engines further developed the three-tier
structure for new engines, which would set
progressively tighter nitrogen oxide (NOx)
emission standards for new engines depending on
the date of their installation. Tier I
represents the 17 g/kW standard stipulated in
the existing Annex VI. For Tier II, it was
agreed to recommend a standard that would see
NOx emission levels for new engines installed
from 1 January 2011 reduced by a figure of
between 15.5 per cent and 21.8 per cent,
depending on the engine's operating parameters.
With regard to Tier III, a number of delegations
expressed the view that a geographically based
approach requiring significant reductions in
designated Emission Control Areas (ECAs), should
be introduced. The recommended Tier III
standard, applicable to new builds beginning on
1 January 2016, will, therefore, see a reduction
of 80 per cent from Tier I levels in specific
emission control areas designated through IMO.
The Organization will develop guidelines for the
designation of such areas, taking into account
the environmental impact. The meeting noted that
engine manufacturers in Japan are already
developing advanced engine treatment systems to
meet the proposed Tier III standard.
Speaking at the close of the session,
Mitropoulos highlighted the importance of this
group for the wider maritime community and for
the environment. He urged all IMO Members to
reconvene at MEPC 57 with the high resolve and
enthusiasm that had been shown throughout this
meeting, so that, "the IMO spirit of
co-operation may prevail and facilitate the
fulfilment of the goals we have so diligently
pursued since 2005, when the revision process
was set in motion."
However, a number of options remain open for
discussion at the MEPC, which is expected to
approve the amendments prior to their formal
adoption at MEPC 58 (6 to 10 October 2008). The
amendments would then enter into force, under
the tacit acceptance procedure, 16 months later,
in March 2010, or on a date to be decided by the
MEPC. |
