News

MEPC 75

MEPC 75 was delayed due to the pandemic and held as an online meeting with a limited agenda from 16 – 20 November 2020.

The following Important GHG-related issues were discussed:

• Short term measures to reduce GHG emissions.

Draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI on the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI), Carbon Intensity Indicator rating (CII), and enhanced Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) were approved.

The amendments are planned to be adopted at MEPC 76 in June 2021 with entry into force on 1 January 2023.

A Correspondence Group will, together with an intersessional working group in May 2021, finalize the necessary guidelines, to be approved at MEPC 76.

• Proposal for an International Maritime Research and Development Board (IMRB).

The proposal was discussed; interested parties were invited to comment through submissions to MEPC 76.

• IMO Fourth GHG study.

SGMF provided information on methane emission data in the report and referred to documents related to the subject, which were submitted to the intersessional working group earlier this year. The study was approved.

MEPC 76 and MEPC 77

MEPC 76 and MEPC 77 are planned to take place from 14 – 18 June 2021 and 1 – 5 November 2021, respectively.

Intersessional working group ISWG-GHG 7 was also delayed and took place as an online meeting from 19 – 23 October 2020.

This meeting was held in preparation for MEPC 75; the agenda was limited to Short term measures to reduce GHG emissions.

The next intersessional meeting ISWG-GHG 8 is planned to take place from 24 – 28 May 2021. It will include a subject for which SGMF has submitted information:

Further consideration of concrete proposals to encourage the uptake of alternative low-carbon and zero-carbon fuels, including the development of life cycle GHG/carbon intensity guidelines for all relevant types of fuels and incentive schemes.