The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), 82nd session, will meet in-person at IMO Headquarters in London from 30 September to 4 October.

Related to the bunkering industry, MEPC 82 will discuss a range of environmental matters, including proposed mid-term measures for the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships, designation of Emission Control Areas (ECAs), enhancing energy efficiency of shipping and pollution prevention and response.

The MEPC meeting is preceded by the 17th meeting of the Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 17), from 23 to 27 September 2024.  

The following is a preview of what will take place at MEPC 82:

Tackling climate change – cutting GHG emissions from ships  

IMO continues to take concrete action to ensure that international shipping bears its fair share of responsibility in addressing climate change. It has already developed global regulations on energy efficiency for ships (read more). In July 2023, MEPC 80 adopted the 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships, with enhanced ambitions to achieve net-zero emissions from international shipping by or around, i.e. close to, 2050.   

As part of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy, a set of proposed binding “mid-term measures” for GHG reduction are currently being considered by Member States, with a view to adoption in late 2025, including:   

• a technical element, i.e., a global marine fuel standard regulating the phased reduction of a marine fuel’s GHG intensity; and   
• an economic element, i.e., a maritime GHG emissions pricing mechanism.     

Draft IMO net-zero framework 

At MEPC 82, the Committee will continue its work to develop a draft legal framework to include candidate mid-term measures in Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). Once finalized, this will be considered for adoption by MEPC in late 2025.  

Comprehensive impact assessment of mid-term measures to reduce GHG emissions  

The proposed mid-term measures will impact the world fleet and Member States, especially Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). To guide decision-making, a comprehensive impact assessment of the different proposed measures was conducted over the past year, focusing on the potential impacts of the candidate measures on the world fleet and on States.   

The Committee will discuss the findings of the comprehensive impact assessment, which are based on complex modelling of different combination scenarios of the technical and economic measures. The report offers a wealth of information to support decision-making. 

Energy efficiency of ships    

The Committee will continue its work to review the ‘short-term measures‘ currently in force to reduce GHG emissions from ships by enhancing the energy efficiency of the global fleet. 

These regulations, adopted in 2021 and effective since 1 January 2023, require ships to measure their energy efficiency by calculating their attained Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI), and to continuously improve their annual operational carbon intensity indicator (CII) as defined in their CII rating.   

The process to review the effectiveness of these short-term measures, as agreed by MEPC 80, is outlined below. MEPC 82 will commence the analysis of submissions received from Member States and industry groups from July 2023 (MEPC 80). 

• Data gathering stage (between MEPC 80 and MEPC 82):  This gathers Member States’ experiences with the implementation of the regulations, as well as proposals;  
• Data analysis stage: A working group at MEPC 82 will be analyzing this data, to be continued by a correspondence group;  
• Convention and Guidelines review stage: An intersessional working group will work on a review between MEPC 82 and MEPC 83 (Spring 2025). A working group at MEPC 83 will finalize the review process, with a view to the adoption of any necessary amendments/revisions to relevant instruments by the Committee. 

Designation of Emission Control Areas  

The Committee will be invited to adopt amendments to MARPOL Annex VI for the designation of the following new Emission Control Areas (ECAs) for Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Sulphur Oxides (Sox) and Particulate Matter (PM), as appropriate:   

• Canadian Arctic Waters; and   
• Norwegian Sea. 

ECAs are areas where special mandatory measures to regulate emissions from ships are required to prevent, reduce and control air pollution from NOx, SOx and PM, and their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

Pollution prevention and response  

The Committee is expected to approve: 

• a Revised tank cleaning additives guidance note and reporting form; 
• Guidelines for developing a local oil/hazardous and noxious substances marine pollution contingency plan, for subsequent publication; and 
• Guidelines on mitigation measures to reduce risks of use and carriage for use of heavy fuel oil as fuel by ships in Arctic waters.

Note: The full highlights of MEPC 82 can be found here. 

Photo credit: International Maritime Organization
Published: 24 September, 2024