Transport emissions verification firm Verifavia has warned against overcomplicating the European Union’s Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (EU MRV) and International Maritime Organisation’s Data Collection System (IMO DCS) regulations.
The company highlights a common and unhelpful misconception that data must be submitted to the verifier in a certain format, which goes beyond regulatory requirements and is placing an additional burden on shipowners and operators.
Owners and operators are well on their way to meeting the requirements of the EU MRV, as the deadline for Monitoring Plan assessment was 31st December 2017 and the initial reporting period commenced on 1st January 2018.
When the data required for EU MRV has been collated, IMO DCS compliance is straightforward as it follows a very similar process. The EU MRV system was designed to ignite the building of an international system and the IMO DCS flows directly from it.
The EU MRV has 37 items on its template of requirements and the IMO DCS template has 9 items. Despite some minor differences between the two, the same methodologies are acceptable for both regulations.
Importantly, neither regulation requires data to be submitted to verifiers in a certain format; if the content is complete and compliant with the requirements of the regulations, it can be submitted in any format – from simple spreadsheets (i.e. xlsx, .csv, etc.) to advanced markup language format (i.e. xml, etc.), or more complex formats used in IT systems for monitoring vessel performance.
The verifier can then extract the data as necessary to proceed with the verification process. This gives the shipowner / operator total flexibility and places the onus on the verifier to perform its role.
“The EU MRV and IMO DCS regulations are now both in force but continue to perplex shipowners and operators,” says Julien Dufour, CEO, Verifavia Shipping.
“These regulations are relatively straightforward and the industry is overcomplicating its response to meeting requirements.
“The IMO DCS largely flows from the EU MRV and the reality is that if shipowners comply with EU MRV, they are also likely to comply with the IMO DCS. If the content submitted to the verifier is correct, the format of the data is largely irrelevant.”
Published: 1 June, 2018
Transferred shares of 40 subsidiaries to BVI firm after tribunal awarded claims in favour of Trinity Seatrading; YSPL has also filed a civil complaint against DNV and Liberian ship registry at Nanjing Maritime Court.
ADNOC L&S, Gulf Energy Maritime, Cockett Marine Oil, Mideast/Bahri Ship Management and VPS experts present their views on biofuel bunker hurdles at the VPS Biofuels Seminar in Dubai on 16 March.
‘Bunker barges operate in very local areas so these vessels call at port very often which means it will be a good fit for women with families,’ states Elpi Petraki, President of WISTA International.
“Our Singapore branch is under preparation and is expected to start business at the republic before June 2023,” Managing Director Darcy Wong tells bunkering publication Manifold Times in an interview.
Development to supply B35 biodiesel blend officially takes effect on 1 February; local bunker suppliers will be able to deliver updated spec within March onwards, once current stocks of B30 avails run out.
VPS, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation, Wilhelmsen Ship Management, and INTERTANKO executives offered a multitude of perspectives to 73 attendees during the VPS Biofuels Seminar, reports Manifold Times.