MEPC yet to finalise ship emission norms

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) yesterday said more work needs to be done before it can finalise a draft resolution to enforce emission norms on new ships.

Although the meeting was able to prepare draft text on mandatory requirements for the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new vessels and on the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) for all ships in operation, the committee noted in particular, that, among other things, issues concerning ship size, target dates and reduction rate in relation to the EEDI requirements all required finalisation.

"More work needs to be done before MEPC completes its consideration of the proposed mandatory application of technical and operational measures designed to regulate and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from international shipping," the IMO statement said.

However an intersessional working group would be formed, which will build on the progress made during the meeting on technical and operational measures to increase the energy efficiency of ships and will report back to the committee's next session in September 2010.

In his closing remark, IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E Mitropoulos said: "Global issues demand global solutions. Let the world learn from the lessons of Copenhagen so that the same mistakes are not repeated in Cancun. At the same time, let us build on the undeniable successes Copenhagen has scored, by providing a forum for Heads of State and Government to listen to and understand each other's problems, concerns, worries and sensitivities and, thus, pave the way for a more successful next round of consultations." The shipping world, he added, should proceed, "not in a fragmented manner, but as responsible members of a community that has a role to play in this effort."

The committee, however, agreed on the basic concept that a vessel's attained EEDI shall be equal or less (e.g. more efficient) than the required EEDI, and that the required EEDI shall be drawn up based on EEDI baselines and reduction rates yet to be agreed. The committee noted guidelines for calculating the EEDI baselines using data from existing ships in the Lloyd's Register Fairplay database.

With regard to market-based measures, the committee agreed to establish an Expert Group on the subject to undertake a feasibility study and impact assessment of the various proposals submitted for a market-based instrument for international maritime transport – again, reporting back to MEPC 61.

The committee also adopted amendments to the MARPOL Convention to formally establish a North American Emission Control Area, in which emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter from ships will be subject to more stringent controls than the limits that apply globally.

Another new Marpol regulation to protect the Antarctic from pollution by heavy grade oils was also adopted. These amendments are expected to enter into force on August 1, 2011.

Delegates who attended the proceedings have expressed disappointment.

Speaking to Emirates Business, Jacob Sterling from Maersk Line's Sustainability Department said he hoped a significant progress would be made soon.

"The IMO is the only place where you can reach a shipping agreement that is global and thus truly beneficial to the environment. We hope IMO member states soon start to make more progress," said Sterling.

A Reuters report quoting delegates attending the session said: "Development of the technical issues did not progress to a degree that the measures could be considered complete."

It was quoting John Aitken, Secretary-General of industry group SEAaT, which seeks CO2 cuts.

Simon Walmsley, marine manager with environmental group WWF International, said it was a disappointment. "For us the minimum extension of progress was the EEDI (energy efficiency design index)," he said. "What they have even struggled to do is to agree to an inter sessional meeting." Delegates said the inter sessional meeting would thrash out technical issues ahead of the next MEPC session.

A Bloomberg report quoting Koichi Yoshida, whose group recommended design rules said that vessels that don't meet new guidelines may face limits on the power output of their engines. "In order to make sure this doesn't happen, they must make sure they attain the energy efficiency design index," which would limit fuel use below historical levels, Yoshida said. A draft proposal to require ships to have an efficiency plan but no requirement to use it is "weak", Yoshida said.

International shipping contributed about 2.7 per cent of global emissions in 2007, according to a July report from the International Maritime Organisation. The UN is seeking cuts because that share may rise as high as 18 per cent by 2050 as trade increases and land-based emissions fall because of greenhouse-gas limits, it said.