Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) 77, 22-26 November
2021
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) in view
of the urgency for all sectors to accelerate their efforts to reduce GHG
emissions as emphasized in the recent IPCC reports and the Glasgow Climate
Pact, recognized the need to strengthen the ambition of the Initial IMO GHG
Strategy during its revision process and has it agreed to initiate the revision
of its GHG strategy. IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC),
meeting virtually for its 77th session, 22-26 November 2021, also adopted a resolution
on voluntary use of cleaner fuels in the Arctic, to reduce black carbon
emissions.
In other work, the MEPC adopted a strategy to address
marine plastic litter from ships; adopted revised guidelines for exhaust gas
cleaning systems (EGCS) and agreed the scope of work on discharge water of
EGCS; and considered matters related to the Ballast Water Management
Convention.
Tackling climate change - cutting GHG emissions from ships
The MEPC agreed
to initiate the revision of the Initial IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG
emissions from ships, recognizing the need to strengthen the ambition during
the revision process. The move comes in the wake of the United Nations Climate
Change Conference (COP 26), held in
Glasgow, United Kingdom, (1-12 November) and in view of the urgency for
all sectors to accelerate their efforts to reduce GHG emissions.
A final draft Revised IMO GHG Strategy would be
considered by MEPC 80 (scheduled to meet in spring 2023), with a view to
adoption.
The Initial IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions
from Shipping was adopted in 2018. (see https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Pages/Cutting-GHG-emissions.aspx
) .
The Committee invited interested Member States and
international organizations to work together and to submit concrete proposals
for a revised IMO GHG Strategy to MEPC 78 (June 2022) for consideration.
Closing the session, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim
said: "Strengthening the ambition of the Initial IMO GHG Strategy during
its revision will be crucial. Our collective actions must show our dedication
to contribute towards the global issue, climate change."
Discussion of proposals to further reduce GHG emissions from
shipping
A number of proposals for further mid-term GHG
reduction measures, including market-based measures, to address GHG emissions
from shipping, as well as a proposal to establish an International Maritime
Research and Development Board, were discussed during the session. This
followed presentation of a number of proposals in the Intersessional Working
Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG GHG 10).
Following an constructive discussion, the Committee
referred the proposals and relevant documents, including associated impact
assessments, to the next sessions ISWG-GHG for further assessment in accordance
with Phase I of the Organization's Work plan on the development of mid-term
measures.
The terms of reference for the next sessions of the
ISWG-GHG were agreed. ISWG-GHG 11 is set to meet 14 to 18 March 2022 and
ISWG-GHG 12, 16 to 20 May 2022
Impact assessment of GHG measures
The Initial IMO GHG strategy recognizes that the impacts
on States of a proposed measure should be assessed and taken into account as
appropriate, with particular attention paid to the needs of developing
countries, especially small island developing States (SIDS) and least developed
countries (LDCs).
The Committee agreed to establish an Ad-hoc Expert
Workshop on Impact Assessments to consider concrete proposals for improving the
impact assessment procedure and provide recommendations as part of the
lessons-learned exercise, the outcome of which will be submitted to ISWG-GHG
11. The workshop is set to be held 8 -9 March 2022.
GHG TC Trust Fund
New pledges were made by Governments to support the
work of the Organization in supporting the implementation of the Initial GHG
Strategy in developing countries, in particular SIDS and LDCs, through
technical cooperation and capacity building through the IMO GHG TC Trust
Fund. These pledges will enhance the
Organization's work on energy efficiency technology cooperation and demonstration
ensuring nobody is left behind in implementing the Initial Strategy.
Correspondence Group on Carbon Intensity Reduction
A Correspondence Group on Carbon Intensity Reduction
was established, to finalize and update guidelines. These relate, in
particular, to the short-term measures adopted in 2021, consisting of technical (EEXI) and
operational (CII and its rating) measures. These mandatory rules are expected
to enter into force in November 2022, aiming at 40% reduction of carbon
intensity by 2030. (Read more here.)
Meanwhile, the MEPC approved the MEPC circular on 2021
Guidance on treatment of innovative energy efficiency technologies for
calculation and verification of the attained EEDI and EEXI, particularly
accommodating the use of wind propulsion as an alternative (complimentary) source
of propulsion.
Black carbon in the Arctic - resolution adopted
The MEPC adopted a resolution which urges Member
States and ship operators to voluntarily use distillate or other cleaner
alternative fuels or methods of propulsion that are safe for ships and could
contribute to the reduction of Black Carbon emissions from ships when operating
in or near the Arctic.
The resolution encourages Member States to commence
addressing the threat to the Arctic from Black Carbon emissions, and report on
measures and best practices to reduce Black Carbon emissions from shipping
The Committee further agreed the terms of reference
for the PPR Sub-Committee's future work on reduction of the impact on the
Arctic of Black Carbon emissions from international shipping.
Revised Guidelines for exhaust gas cleaning systems adopted
The MEPC adopted 2021 Guidelines for exhaust gas
cleaning systems, to update the last version adopted in 2015 (see PPR 7).
The Committee approved an MEPC circular with updated
guidance on indication of ongoing compliance in the case of the failure of a
single monitoring instrument, and recommended actions to take if the exhaust
gas cleaning system (EGCS) fails to meet the provisions of the EGCS Guidelines.
Evaluation and harmonization of rules and guidance on the discharge
of discharge water from EGCS
The Committee agreed the scope of work for the PPR
Sub-Committee relating to evaluation and harmonization of rules and guidance on
EGCS discharge water into the aquatic environment, including the
conditions and areas for discharge. The work will cover: risk assessment;
impact assessment; delivery of EGCS residues; regulatory matters; and
developing a database of substances identified in EGCS discharge water.
The PPR Sub-Committee is set to meet for its 9th
session in April 2022.
Strategy to address marine plastic litter from ships adopted
The MEPC, in order to enhance implementation of IMO's
mandatory international regulations, adopted the Strategy to address marine
plastic litter from ships, which sets out the ambitions to reduce marine
plastic litter generated from, and retrieved by, fishing vessels; reduce
shipping's contribution to marine plastic litter; and improve the effectiveness
of port reception and facilities and treatment in reducing marine plastic
litter.
The Strategy also aims to achieve further outcomes,
including: enhanced public awareness, education and seafarer training; improved
understanding of the contribution of ships to marine plastic litter; improved
understanding of the regulatory framework associated with marine plastic litter
from ships; strengthened international cooperation; and targeted technical
cooperation and capacity-building.
The adoption of the Strategy follows the adoption, in
2018, of the IMO Action Plan to address marine litter (read more here:
https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Pages/marinelitter-default.aspx)
IMO, in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is implementing the GloLitter
Partnerships Project which aims to help shipping and fisheries move to a
low-plastics future. (Read more here:
https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/OurWork/PartnershipsProjects/Documents/DPP-Factsheets/DPP%20one-page%20fact%20sheets_(25-10-21)_FINAL_ONLINE_GLOLITTER.pdf
)
Marking of fishing gear
The Committee considered proposals related to making
the marking of fishing gear mandatory. It agreed to refer relevant documents to
PPR 9 for further discussion.
Garbage Record Book
The MEPC considered a proposal to extend the requirement
for a Garbage Record Book to ships less than 400 GT and equal to or greater
than 100 GT. It agreed to instruct the PPR Sub-Committee to prepare draft
amendments to MARPOL Annex V.
Plastic pollution by plastic pellets
A document submitted by Sri Lanka, reporting on the
May 2021 MV X-Press Pearl incident, during which 11,000 tonnes of plastic
pellets were spilled off the shore of Colombo, Sri Lanka, was referred by the
Committee to the PPR Sub-committee for further discussion.
Harmful aquatic organisms in ballast water
The MEPC was updated on the experience-building phase
associated with the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWM), which has been
in force since 2017 and aims to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species
in ballast water. The Committee was informed that there is now available data
from 35 Member States and seven other stakeholders. corresponding to
approximately 15,000 ships. This is currently being analysed by the World
Maritime University (WMU) and a full data analysis report will be submitted to
MEPC 78.
The MEPC approved a unified interpretation of the Date
to be used for determining the implementation of mandatory commissioning
testing of individual ballast water management systems in accordance with
resolution MEPC.325(75). The MEPC also established fundamental elements to be
taken into account for the further development of guidance on measures that may
be taken when ballast water management systems encounter challenging water
quality on uptake.
Annex II draft amendments on categorization of noxious liquid
substances approved
The MEPC approved draft amendments to appendix I
(Guidelines for the categorization of noxious liquid substances) to MARPOL
Annex II that are consequential to the revised GESAMP Hazard Evaluation Procedure,
which was approved by GESAMP as part of the GESAMP Hazard Evaluation Procedure
for Chemicals Carried by Ships, 2019 (GESAMP Reports and Studies No.102). The
draft amendments will be circulated, with a view to adoption at MEPC 78.