Statutory Alert: MARPOL Annex VI – additional NOx Technical Code certification requirements and changes to the IAPP Record of Construction and Equipment Applicability: All shipowners and operators
A number of amendments to MARPOL Annex VI* will enter into force on 1 March, 2016. These include:
changes to the definitions of ‘fuel oil’ and ‘marine diesel engine’
minor amendments to Regulation 13.7, and
changes to the format of sections 2.2.1 and 2.5.1 of the Supplement to the International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate (the IAPP Record of Construction and Equipment).
Impact of the new definitions on NOx Technical Code certification
The changes to the definitions mean that gas-fuelled engines installed on ships constructed (keel laid) on or after 1 March, 2016, or gas-fuelled additional or non-identical replacement engines installed on or after that date, require NOx Technical Code certification. Dual-fuelled engines were already required to have NOx Technical Code certification.
New format IAPP Record of Construction and Equipment
The new format IAPP Record of Construction and Equipment will be issued to existing vessels when the vessel’s current IAPP certificate expires, as per the IMO guidance contained in circular MSC-MEPC.5/Circ.6.
The IMO has issued guidelines, contained in circular MEPC.1/Circ.849, on how to complete it.
