IMO to adopt NSEC area

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the IMO is set to adopt amendments to the regulations on air pollution to establish a new special emissions control area for the North Sea when it meets for its 53rd session from 18-22 July. Other issues on the agenda include ship recycling and the designation of new particularly sensitive sea areas.

The entry into force date for the amendment is anticipated to be November 2006, with a 12 month period after that date before full implementation of the North Sea SECA.

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, whereas the sulphur content of fuel oil used onboard ships must not exceed 1.5% m/m in a SECA. Alternatively, ships must fit an exhaust gas cleaning system or use other methods to limit SOx emissions. Draft Guidelines on on-board exhaust gas-SOx cleaning systems have been developed and are expected to be approved by the MEPC at this session, along with unified interpretations of MARPOL Annex VI.

The MEPC will also review the draft Guidelines on a CO2 Indexing Scheme and the outcome of the Technical Workshop on a Greenhouse Gases Indexing Scheme, to be held at IMO on 15 July.