Fuel oil consumption data collection begins: IMO

The MARPOL Annex VI regulation on Collection and reporting of ship fuel oil consumption data requires ships of 5,000 gross tonnage and above to collect consumption data for each type of fuel oil they use, as well as other, additional, specified data including proxies for transport work.

The aggregated data is reported to the flag State for each calendar year and the flag State, having determined that the data has been reported in accordance with the requirements, issues a Statement of Compliance to the ship. Flag States are required to subsequently transfer this data to an IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Database. IMO is required to produce an annual report to the MEPC, summarizing the data collected.

The data collection system is one of the measures taken which will support the implementation of IMO’s Initial IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships, adopted in 2018. The ships covered by the regulation represent approximately 85% of the total CO2 emissions from international shipping. The data collection system is intended to support the three-step approach towards addressing CO2 emission from international shipping: data collection, data analysis, followed by decision-making on what further measures, if any, are required.