|
New Emission
Reduction Rules Enter Force Regulations
for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships are contained in Annex VI of the
MARPOL Convention [1] and were adopted in the 1997 Protocol to that Convention.
The Annex
VI regulations set limits on sulphur oxide (SOx) and nitrogen oxide (NOx)
emissions from ship exhausts and prohibit deliberate emissions of
ozone-depleting substances. The Annex
includes a global cap of 4.5 percent by mass (% 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. Annex VI
contains provisions allowing for special “SOx Emission Control
Areas” (SECAs) to be established with more stringent controls on sulphur
emissions. In these areas, the sulphur content of fuel oil used onboard ships
must not exceed 1.5% m/m. Alternatively,
ships must fit an exhaust gas cleaning system or use other methods to limit SOx
emissions. The regulation requires such alternative methods to be approved by
the Administration (flag State). Draft Guidelines on on-board exhaust gas-SOx
cleaning systems have been developed and are expected to be approved by
IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) when it meets for
its 53rd session in July 2005. The
Baltic Sea Area is designated as a SECA in the Protocol. However, the
regulation allows for a 12-month period from the date of entry into force
before the limits in a SECA can be enforced In March
2000, the MEPC approved a proposed amendment to Annex VI to also include the Monitoring
of sulphur content IMO has been monitoring the worldwide average sulphur
content of residual fuel supplied for use on board ships since 1999 following
the adoption of resolution MEPC.82(43) Guidelines for monitoring the world wide
average sulphur content of residual fuel supplied for use on board ships . The
monitoring is based on bunker reports around the world representing more than
60 per cent of all bunkers delivered to ships. The worldwide average for 2004
has been calculated to be 2.67% m/m sulphur content. This figure has been
almost constant since 1999 (the variation is less than +/- 0.02 % m/m). Ozone-depleting
substance Annex VI
prohibits deliberate emissions of ozone-depleting substances, which include
halons and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). New installations, such as refrigeration
and fire-fighting systems, containing ozone-depleting substances, are
prohibited on all ships, but new installations containing
hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are permitted until 1 January 2020. Emissions
of nitrogen oxides Annex VI
also sets limits on emissions of nitrogen oxides from diesel engines. A
mandatory NOx Technical Code establishes procedures for the testing, survey and
certification of marine diesel engines which will enable engine manufacturers,
shipowners and Administrations to ensure that all applicable marine diesel
engines comply with the relevant limiting emission values of NOx as specified
in regulation 13 of Annex VI. Incineration The Annex
also prohibits the incineration aboard ship of certain products, such as
contaminated packaging materials and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which
have previously been used in a number of industrial materials. Greenhouse
gas policy In
November 2003, IMO adopted resolution A.963(23) IMO Policies and practices
related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships. The MEPC is
developing draft Guidelines on the CO2 Indexing Scheme and has recognized that
IMO guidelines on greenhouse gas emissions have to address all six greenhouse
gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol: carbon dioxide (CO2); methane (CH4);
nitrous oxide (N2O); hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs); perfluorocarbons (PFCs); and
sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). JALESVEVA YAYAMAHE Yahoo! Groups Links
|
