Mar. 22 2024 MEPC 81 Report Home Class & statutory Marine Environment Protection Committee 81th Session (MEPC 81) Summary Report LinkedIn Twitter Facebook share Convention BWM Ballast Water Management MARPOL Annex VI Air Pollution Flag ALL FLAGS Ship typeAll Sea going Ship types The 81st session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 81) was held in person in London (18-22 March 2024) with hybrid facilities allowing remote participation. MEPC 81 agreed that the discussions to set up technical and economic mid-term measures to implement the Strategy will be developed through different channels. A dedicated GESAMP working group was established to provide best possible scientific and technical assessment of issues related to the implementation of LCA Guidelines. A GHG Expert-Workshop will lead the following works on the basket of mid-term measures (modelling the collecting and the distribution of revenues) in line with the CIA task force “without engaging policy discussions”. An outline of the “IMO net-zero framework” was drafted to integrate possible amendments to MARPOL Annex VI (new Chapter 5). MEPC 81 adopted:Amendments to Ballast Water Management Convention regarding the use of electronic water record booksAmendments to MARPOL Protocol I Article V for the reporting procedures of lost containersAmendments to MARPOL Annex VI on low-flashpoint fuels and other fuel oil related issues; marine diesel engine replacing a steam system; accessibility of the data in the IMO Ship Fuel Consumption Database (IMO DCS) ; inclusion of data on transport work and enhanced level of granularity in the IMO DCS. Consequential amendments to SEEMP 2022 Guidelines.Draft amendments to the 2021 Guidelines on the shaft/engine power limitation system to comply with the EEXI requirements and use of a power reserveAmendments to the unified interpretations of regulations 2.2.15 and 2.2.18 of MARPOL Annex VIAmendments to circular BWM.2/Circ.43/Rev.1 on the approval process for the modifications of a system that has already received type approvalInterim guidance for ports with challenging water qualityBWM.2/Circ.82 on Guidance for the temporary storage of treated sewage and/or grey water in ballast tanksCircular on recommendations for the carriage of plastic pellets by sea in freight containersMEPC 81 approved:Designation of ECAs in the Canadian Arctic waters and the Norwegian Sea, for adoption at MEPC 82An action plan to address barriers to the uptake of the Guidelines on reduction of underwater noise from shipping (MEPC.1/Circ.906) with an experience-building phase set to three years, up to 2026MEPC 81 discussed the following matters:Ballast Water Management Convention ReviewRegulations on Black Carbon emissions from international shipping impacting the Arctic, for consideration at MEPC 82Guidance on the carriage requirements of biofuels and biofuel blends by bunker vessels, for consideration by ESPH groupGuidance for the use of biofuels and biofuels blends, for consideration at MSC 108Guidance on consistent reporting of VLSFO, ULSFO, biofuels and e-fuels to the IMO DCS, for consideration at MEPC 82 Read our MEPC 81 summary report Download Register now for our MEPC 81 webinar