Air Pollution Rules To Enter Into Force In 2005

Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships are set to enter into force on 19 May 2005 following the ratification by Samoa of MARPOL Annex VI.

Annex VI sets limits on sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from ship exhausts and prohibits deliberate emissions of ozone-depleting substances. The regulations include a global cap of 4.5 per cent m/m on the sulphur content of fuel oil and calls on IMO to monitor the worldwide average sulphur content of fuel once the Protocol comes into force.

It also contains provisions allowing for special "SOx Emission Control Areas" to be established with more stringent controls on sulphur emissions. In these areas, the sulphur content of fuel oil used on board ships must not exceed 1.5 per cent m/m. Alternatively, ships must fit an exhaust gas cleaning system or use any other technological method to limit SOx emissions. The Baltic Sea Area is designated as a SOx Emission Control area in the Protocol. In March 2000, the MEPC approved a proposed amendment to Annex VI to also include the North Sea as a SOx Emission Control Area. The aim is to adopt the amendment once MARPOL Annex VI enters into force.

Annex VI prohibits deliberate emissions of ozone depleting substances, which include halons and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). New installations containing ozone-depleting substances are prohibited on all ships, but new installations containing hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are permitted until 1 January 2020.

The Annex also sets limits on emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from diesel engines, and prohibits the incineration on board ships of certain products, such as contaminated packaging materials and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

The ratification by Samoa on 18 May 2004 of MARPOL Annex VI means the annex has now met its entry-into-force criteria and will enter into force 12 months after that date.

Survey, Inspection and Certification

The Regulations impose a regime of survey, inspection and certification for vessels of 400GT or above and every fixed and floating drilling rig and other platform. Flag states must ensure that equipment, systems, fittings, arrangements and material all comply with the relevant requirements.

Surveys are required:

• For new vessels - before entry into service 
• For existing vessels - at the first scheduled dry docking after entry into force of the Regulations, i.e 19 May 2005, but in no case later than 3 years after entry into force

and

at least every 5 years thereafter with at least one intermediate survey during that period.

Assuming the survey shows compliance, vessels will be issued with an International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate by the flag state administration. The certificate shall be valid for a period not exceeding 5 years from the date of issue. (An extension of this period by 5 months is available only in limited circumstances.) The certificate ceases to be valid if:

• inspections and surveys have not been carried out as required 
• significant alterations have been made to the vessel's equipment, systems, fittings, arrangements or material 
• the vessel is transferred to a different flag state

Source: IMO. 

IMO webpage on Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships

The Club has produced a training package on the new air pollution regulations in association with Videotel. Details will shortly be available from the Loss Prevention area of the Steamship website.