RF Transport Ministry publishes MEPC 65 results
The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) met for its 65th session from 13 to 17 May 2013, at IMO Headquarters in London. As RF Transport Ministry informs, the MEPC considered and agreed to proposed draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI regulation 13 on Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), to amend the date for the implementation of “Tier III” standards within emission control areas (ECAs) to 1 January 2021, from the current effective date of 1 January 2016.
Regulation 13.10 of MARPOL Annex VI calls for a review of the status of technological developments to implement the 2016 Tier III NOx emission limits. The review was to be completed by 2013.
For that purpose, Correspondence Group on Assessment of Technological Developments to Implement the Tier III NOx Emission Standards under MARPOL Annex VI headed by the USA was set up by MEPC.
The availability of technological developments to implement the 2016 Tier III NOx emission standards was discussed within the framework of 65th session of MEPC on May 15, 2013. MEPC listened to the report of the Correspondence Group, which considered the technologies needed to meet Tier III NOx standards to be available and recommended that the effective date of the Tier III NOx standards in regulations 13.2.2 and 13.5.1. of MARPOL Annex VI should be retained.
Russian delegation headed by Konstantin Palnikov, Director of the Transport Ministry’s Department of State Policy for Marine and River Transport, submitted the comments on the report of the Correspondence Group. The comments contained valid arguments proving that the only technology available in the market today among those ensuring implementation of the required standards (SCR-technology based on urea-water solutions) has essential drawbacks. The delegation did not agree with the Correspondence Group’s conclusions about retaining of the effective date of the Tier III NOx standards and proposed to postpone it for 5 years.
20 of 35 delegations having commented on the submitted documents supported the proposal of the Russian delegation. The rest, mostly countries involved in shipbuilding and in manufacture of ship engines, insisted on the effective date of 1 January 2016.
Following the majority opinion, MEPC has developed draft amendments to regulations 13.2.2 and 13.5. of MARPOL Annex VI concerning ship engines meeting Tier III Standard (Regulation 13.5.1). According to the current regulation 13.5.1, Tier III Standard should be met by diesel engines installed on ships built in 2016 and later. The new edition of this regulation requires that Tier III Standard should be met by vessels built in 2021 and later while the new edition of regulation 13.2.2 requires that diesel engine should meet Tier III Standard or, if there is no possibility for this, Tier II Standard, from 2021 (instead of 2016).
Draft amendments will be sent to contracting governments for consideration and then submitted to MEPC 66 in 2014, with a view to adoption. A number of delegations strongly opposed the decision and reserved their position so the decision is likely to meet strong opposition.
Those opposing the decision congratulated Russian delegation with the decision to postpone the effective date of the Tier III NOx standards in regulations 13.2.2 and 13.5.1. of MARPOL Annex VI but frankly acknowledged that it would seriously harm the investments already made in the development and production of equipment decreasing NOx emission in shipping industry.
On May 16, 2013, the presentation of the Russian Federation on technologies required for implementation of Tier III NOx Emission Standards was attended by 20 states including EU members and ecological organizations. The presentation generated interest and representatives of some countries announced that they have revised their position and would probably support Russia in the future.
When considering the above amendments on the last day of the meeting (May 17, 2013) the USA delegation made and official proposal to supplement the amendments and to include clauses according to which the effective date of January 01, 2016 would be retained, exceptionally, for the following NECAs - North American ECA and the US Caribbean ECA. It also drew the attention to the fact that interested organizations had invested millions of dollars into corresponding technologies and industry developments to comply with Tier III NOx Emission Standards by 2016. The proposals of the USA delegation were supported by delegations from shipbuilding and engine producing countries as well as supervising organizations - EUROMOT and CESA.
EUROMOT, CESA, CSC tried to draw the attention of all delegations to wrongfulness of the decision on amendment of the date for the implementation of “Tier III” standards (regulations 13.2.2 and 13.5.1. of MARPOL Annex VI). EUROMOT representative promised to provide the shipbuilding industry with technologies required for compliance with Tier III NOx standards by 2016.
The proposals of the USA on the amendments to regulations 13.5.1 and 13.2.2 will be circulated for consideration at MEPC 66 in 2014 (March 31 –April 4).
Related link:
Russia succeeds in recommending postponed introduction of NOx emission limits in Baltic area>>>>
