Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
6.2 Technical and Operational Measures for Reduction
of Emissions of GHG from Ships
IMO started considering the reduction of GHG emissions in the late 1980s. In 1997
the organization conducted the first IMO Study on GHG emissions from ships. The
report identified a potential for reduction of GHG emissions through the introduc-
tion of operational and technical measures. In 2003, the IMO Assembly adopted
resolution A.963(23) on IMO Policies and Practices Related to the Reduction of
GHG Emissions from Ships. In 2009, IMO conducted another GHG Study. The
IMO GHG Study 2009 concluded that the emissions from international shipping
can be reduced by between 25 and 75 % by using energy-efficient design and
operational practices. 9
In July 2009, after considering the second IMO GHG Study, the MEPC
approved a number of voluntary measures. These include Interim Guidelines on
the Method of Calculation of the Energy Efficiency Design Index for New Ships
(EEDI), the Interim Guidelines for Voluntary Verification of Energy Efficiency
Design Index, the Guidance for the Development of a Ship Energy Efficiency
Management Plan (SEEMP) and the Guidelines for Voluntary use of the Energy
Efficiency Operational Indicator (EEOI). In July 2011, the MEPC adopted a draft
amendment to MARPOL Annex VI and included legally-binding regulations on
energy-efficiency for ships (the “Energy Efficiency Regulations”). These amend-
ments to MARPOL Annex VI entered into force on 1 January 2013 through a tacit
acceptance procedure. They introduced a mandatory EEDI for new ships and the
SEEMP for all ships.
Technical and operational measures have been introduced to improve the energy
efficiency of ships. This is achieved by improvements in a ship
s equipment and
improvements and innovation in the operation of ships. 10 As mentioned earlier,
IMO introduced a mandatory EEDI for new ships and the SEEMP for all ships. The
EEDI relates to technical measures for reduction of GHG emissions from ships and
the SEEMP relates to operational measures for reduction of GHG emissions from
ships. The EEDI introduces a non-prescriptive and performance-based mechanism.
It allows the ship-owner to choose suitable or most cost-effective technologies as
long as the required energy efficiency level is attained. 11 Unlike previous IMO
regulations it did not prescribe particular equipment.
'
9
IMO, above note 1.
10
Fai Cheng, “IMO Technical Measures in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships: A
Lloyd ' s Register Perspective”, online: http://www.ecmar.eu/media/3697/lr_ecmar_eedi_article_
final.pdf , last accessed on 6 September 2013.
11 Edmund Hughes, “A new chapter for MARPOL Annex VI - requirements for technical and
operational measures to improve the energy efficiency of international shipping” (February 2013),
online: http://www.imo.org/KnowledgeCentre/PapersAndArticlesByIMOStaff/Documents/A%
20new%20chapter%20for%20MARPOL%20Annex%20VI%20-%20E%20Hughes.pdf , last accessed
on 6 September 2013.
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