Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI

Adopted at 76th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 76) held in June 2021 amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, makes the regulation of Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) mandatory.

Introduction of the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) (new Regs. 23 and 25):

This technical efficiency measure requires all applicable vessels of 400 GT and above that operate internationally, and whose ship type falls into one or more of the categories* in regulation 2 of MARPOL Annex VI, to hold:

1. An attained EEXI or Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) equal or below the required EEXI of the vessel, (res. MEPC.332(76))
2. An Onboard Management Manual (OMM) approved by PRS, where Overridable Power Limitation (OPL) has been installed to improve the attained EEXI, (res. MEPC.334(76))
3. A verified attained EEXI (or EEDI where applicable) based on an EEXI (or EEDI where applicable) Technical File, (res. MEPC.333(76))
4. Issued by a Flag or PRS International Energy Efficiency Certificate (IEEC) or Statement of Compliance following verification of the attained EEXI.

Vessels to which EEXI applies must demonstrate compliance by their next scheduled survey – annual/intermediate/renewal – for the International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate (IAPPC) to be issued or endorsed, or initial survey before the ship enters service for the International Energy Efficiency (IEEC)  to be issued, whichever is first on or after 1 January 2023.

Introduction of the Operational Carbon Intensity reduction (new Reg. 28):

Applicable to all vessels* of 5000 GT and above, have to demonstrate reductions of carbon intensity indicator (CII) between 1 January 2023 and 2030.

In view of new MARPOL Annex VI amendments:

1. By the end of 2022, evidence of operational carbon intensity reduction for applicable vessels should indicate in a new section of the vessel’s existing SEEMP, how to calculate annual CII and reporting procedure CII, (res. MEPC.335(76), MEPC.336(76), MEPC.337(76))
2. Emissions data must be submitted through the IMO Data Collection System (DCS) in addition to the existing fuel consumption requirement. Emission must as a minimum include the Annual Efficiency Ratio,
3. From 1 January 2024, vessels will be issued with Statement of Compliance, covering verified fuel consumption, attained carbon intensity reduction and an annual rating (A to E) based on carbon intensity reduction performance against the required carbon intensity reduction, (res. MEPC.338(76), MEPC.339(76))
4. Periodic SEEMP verification audits will be introduced to ensure plans are in place to achieve the targets and ensure that the Correction Action Plans (CAP) are being followed where a vessel is rated E in any given year, or D in three consecutive years.

* Bulk carrier, Gas carrier, Tanker, Containership, General cargo ship, Refrigerated cargo carrier, Combination carrier, Ro-ro cargo ship, Ro-ro cargo ship (vehicle carrier), Ro-ro passenger ship, LNG carrier having conventional propulsion, and cruise passenger ship and LNG carrier having non-conventional propulsion (i.e. diesel-electric propulsion, turbine propulsion, hybrid propulsion systems, etc.)

For further information do not hesitate to contact directly via tm@prs.pl.