Port & Regulatory

IMO MEPC 82nd session to be held between 30 September to 4 October

Related to the bunkering industry, MEPC 82 will discuss proposed mid-term measures for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships and designation of ECAs.

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2 years ago

September 24, 2024

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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

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StormGeo and OceanScore link emissions data, compliance workflows

Cooperation combines StormGeo’s expertise in operational vessel and emissions data with OceanScore’s expertise in emissions compliance workflows across EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime and UK ETS requirements.

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StormGeo and OceanScore link emissions data, compliance workflows

Weather intelligence and decision support solutions provider StormGeo and Hamburg-based technology platform OceanScore on Wednesday (3 June) said they have deepened their ongoing cooperation through the signing of a collaboration agreement during Posidonia 2026 in Athens on 2 June.

The cooperation combines StormGeo’s expertise in operational vessel and emissions data with OceanScore’s expertise in emissions compliance workflows across EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime and upcoming UK ETS requirements.

Together, the companies aim to help shipping companies seamlessly navigate increasing regulatory complexity more efficiently — from emissions reporting and data validation to compliance exposure management, pooling and financial settlement.

As emissions regulation becomes an increasingly important part of commercial shipping operations, the need for reliable operational data and streamlined compliance processes continues to grow. The cooperation between StormGeo and OceanScore is designed to support shipping companies with more connected, transparent and actionable processes across operational and commercial teams.

“From the outside, companies like StormGeo and OceanScore may sometimes be perceived as competitors because both operate around emissions and compliance workflows,” said Albrecht Grell, Managing Director at OceanScore.

“But in reality, the industry increasingly needs both perspectives working together: trusted operational emissions data on one side and commercial compliance execution on the other. Our cooperation reflects that shipping companies are no longer looking for isolated solutions — they need connected processes, automated across different systems and reliable decision-making throughout the full compliance chain.”

By connecting validated operational emissions data with commercial compliance management, the cooperation supports workflows across:

emissions reporting and validation
compliance management across EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime and upcoming UK ETS requirements
exposure visibility and cost transparency
pooling, settlement and financial processes

The cooperation also aims to improve commercial transparency and coordination across operational and commercial stakeholders.

“StormGeo plays a central role in helping shipping companies turn operational vessel and emissions data into trusted, decision-ready insights,” said Espen Martinsen, Chief Commercial Officer at StormGeo.

“As emissions regulations become more complex, this data is essential for transparent and efficient compliance management. By working with OceanScore, we can help customers connect StormGeo’s validated operational data with commercial compliance processes, creating a more integrated and practical approach to emissions management.”

The signing ceremony took place at the StormGeo booth during Posidonia 2026 in Athens and was attended by representatives from both companies.

Both companies expect the cooperation to continue evolving alongside upcoming regulatory developments, including FuelEU Maritime, EU ETS, the upcoming UK ETS and future emissions-related frameworks affecting global shipping.

Photo credit: StormGeo
Published: 4 June, 2026

Methanol

Seaspan and Hapag-Lloyd complete first of five methanol vessel retrofit

Following “Seaspan Yangtze”, the remaining vessels planned for retrofit under the methanol retrofit programme are “Seaspan Amazon”, “Seaspan Ganges”, “Seaspan Thames”, and “Seaspan Zambezi”.

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Seaspan and Hapag-Lloyd complete first of five methanol vessel retrofit

Seaspan Corporation (Seaspan) and Hapag-Lloyd on Wednesday (3 June) announced the successful completion of the first of the five vessel conversions under their methanol retrofit programme with the delivery of Seaspan Yangtze.

From the early SAVER (Seaspan Action for Vessel Energy Reduction) programme to today’s CleanBlue initiative, Seaspan has committed over USD 230 USD million across 86 vessels, executing more than 550 efficiency and retrofit projects.

Following Seaspan Yangtze, the remaining vessels planned for retrofit under the programme are Seaspan Amazon, Seaspan Ganges, Seaspan Thames, and Seaspan Zambezi. Each retrofit is expected to reduce well-to-wake CO₂e emissions by approximately 30,000 to 50,000 metric tonnes per vessel annually when operating on low-carbon methanol, while also extending vessel lifespan and enhancing fuel flexibility.

“Decarbonisation is not just about building the fleet of tomorrow, it is also about unlocking the full potential of the fleet we have today. Retrofitting and upgrades on existing fleets play a practical, immediate, and economical role in accelerating shipping’s decarbonization journey,” said Bing Chen, Chairman, President and CEO of Seaspan.

“Project SAVER CleanBlue highlights Seaspan’s strong customer partnerships, deep technical expertise, and unique platform integrated with JV partners, such as WattSpan Maritime Technology, in executing complex and large-scale retrofit projects.”

“The successful conversion of the Seaspan Yangtze together with the planned retrofit of its four sister vessels is another important step on our ambitious path towards net-zero fleet operations by 2045,” said Silke Lehmköster, Managing Director, Fleet, Hapag-Lloyd.

“Together with Seaspan, we are demonstrating that retrofitting existing vessels for low-carbon methanol can be a practical way to reduce emissions in shipping.”

Photo credit: Seaspan
Published: 4 June, 2026

Nuclear

South Korean-led nuclear car carrier design secures LR backing

LR is working with HHI, KSOE, Hyundai Glovis, G- Marine Service and KAERI on a joint development project exploring an advanced small modular reactor (SMR) installation on a PCTC.

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June 4, 2026

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South Korean-led nuclear car carrier design secures LR backing

Classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) on Tuesday (2 June) said it has teamed up with South Korean shipbuilding, marine services and nuclear research organisations to advance the development of a nuclear‑assisted car carrier concept.

LR is working with Hyundai Heavy Industries, Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE), Hyundai Glovis, G- Marine Service and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) on a joint development project (JDP) exploring an advanced small modular reactor (SMR) installation on a pure car and truck carrier (PCTC).

The study focused on how a Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) could be physically and operationally integrated into a large vehicle carrier. Work examined the internal arrangement and segregation of the reactor system, shielding requirements, and the impact on cargo deck layout and vehicle capacity, alongside stability and trim implications linked to the reactor’s weight and positioning.

The partners also assessed propulsion system configuration and power delivery, as well as operational flexibility compared with conventionally fuelled PCTCs, where trade routes and port calls can be tightly constrained.

A key focus of the project has been safety. LR led hazard identification (HAZID) and preliminary risk assessment work, focusing on containment, onboard safety systems and potential operability constraints tied to nuclear technology at sea.

The partners will mark the project milestone with an Approval in Principle (AiP) granting ceremony on 2 June at the LR stand during Posidonia 2026.

Sung-Gu Park, President – North East Asia, Lloyd’s Register, said: “While nuclear propulsion is still at an early stage of development, this project shows the importance of building technical understanding now to support future progress.

“Establishing feasibility at concept stage is a valuable step forward, particularly in areas such as cargo optimisation, vessel stability and integrated safety design.”

Hong-Ryeul Ryu, CTO and Senior Executive Vice President at HD HHI, said: “With global environmental regulations becoming increasingly stringent and no definitive net-zero fuel yet available, SMR-powered ships can serve as a highly effective alternative, representing a pioneering next-generation maritime technology capable of complying with GHG emission regulations while allowing lifetime operation without refuelling, and HD HHI will remain at the forefront of sustainable maritime technology development.”

Photo credit: Lloyd’s Register
Published: 4 June, 2026