Energy efficiency regulations

energy effi ciency regulations
New regulations aimed at improving the
energy effi ciency of international shipping
entered into force on 1 January 2013.
The amendments to the International
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution
from Ships (MARPOL) were adopted in
July 2011.They add a new chapter 4
Regulations on energy effi ciency for ships to
MARPOL Annex VI, to make mandatory the
Energy Effi ciency Design Index (EEDI), for
new ships, and the Ship Energy Effi ciency
Management Plan (SEEMP) for all ships.

Other amendments to Annex VI add new
defi nitions and the requirements for survey
and certifi cation, including the format for the
International Energy Effi ciency Certifi cate.
The regulations apply to all ships of 400
gross tonnage and above. However, under
regulation 19, the Administration may waive
the requirements for new ships up to a
maximum of 4 years.

The EEDI is a non-prescriptive,
performance-based mechanism that
leaves the choice of technologies to use in
a specifi c ship design to the industry. As
long as the required energy-effi ciency level
is attained, ship designers and builders
would be free to use the most cost-effi cient
solutions for the ship to comply with the
regulations.
The SEEMP establishes a mechanism for
operators to improve the energy effi ciency
of ships. Ships are required to keep on
board a ship-specifi c Ship Energy Effi ciency
Management Plan (SEEMP).
Other MARPOL amendments which
entered into force on 1 January 2013:
Annex VI emissions
Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI
designate certain waters adjacent to the
coasts of Puerto Rico (United States) and
the US Virgin Islands (United States) as the
US Caribbean Sea Emission Control Area
for the control of emissions of nitrogen
oxides (NOX), sulphur oxides (SOX) and
particulate matter under regulations
13 and 14 of MARPOL Annex VI. Another
amendment makes old steamships
exempt from the requirements on sulphur
content of fuel oil used on board ships
in both the North American and United
States Caribbean Sea ECAs. The new US
Caribbean Sea ECA takes effect 12 months
after entry into force, that is, 1 January 2014.

Annex IV Sewage
Amendments to MARPOL Annex IV
Prevention of pollution by sewage from
ships include the possibility of establishing
Special Areas, the actual designation of the
Baltic Sea as a Special Area under Annex
IV, and the introduction of stricter discharge
requirements for passenger ships while in a
Special Area.
Annex V Garbage 
The revised MARPOL Annex V Regulations
for the prevention of pollution by garbage
from ships has entered into force, following
a comprehensive review to bring the Annex
up to date.
The main feature of the revision is the
prohibition of the discharge of all garbage
into the sea, except as expressly provided
otherwise in the Annex. The discharges
permitted in certain circumstances include
food wastes, animal carcasses, cargo
residues, and water containing cleaning
agents or additives used for washing deck
and external surfaces or cargo holds.
Cargo residues and cleaning agents
and additives must only be considered
for discharge if they are not harmful to the
marine environment. The changes also
include the updating of definitions; the
introduction of an “en route” requirement for
the discharge of garbage at sea; and the
regrouping of the garbage categories