MEPC adopts amendments

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the IMO adopted amendments to its regulations on the prevention of air pollution to establish a new special emissions control area for the North Sea when it met for its 53rd session from 18-22 July. MEPC also agreed to develop a new mandatory instrument to cover ship recycling and adopted four new particularly sensitive sea areas (PSSAs).

MEPC adopted amendments to the ?Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships? in MARPOL Annex VI, including one on the new North Sea SOx Emission Control Area (SECA). The entry into force date for the North Sea SECA amendment is expected to be 21 November 2006, with its full implementation 12 months later.

MARPOL Annex VI entered into force on 19 May 2005 and sets limits on sulphur oxide (SOx) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from ship exhausts and prohibits deliberate emissions of ozone-depleting substances. The Annex establishes a global cap of 4.5% by mass (% m/m) on the sulphur content of fuel oil. The sulphur content of fuel oil used onboard ships operating in a SECA must not exceed 1.5% m/m or, alternatively, ships must fit an exhaust gas cleaning system or use other methods to limit SOx emissions.

The Committee noted information gained from monitoring the worldwide sulphur content in fuel oils for 2004 which gave a three-year (2002-2004) rolling average of sulphur content in fuel oil worldwide of 2.67% m/m.