This page contain information copyrighted by other individuals and entities. Copyrighted material displayed in this page is done so for archival purposes only and is not intended to infringe upon the ownership rights of the original owners.
RINA Egypt L.L.C. - Suez (ID: 24991)
Page 1 of 1 [Back to companies list]
services -- shipping classification & certification --- imo publications ---- MEPC 51 The 51th session of the Maritime Environment Protection Committee was held from 29 March to 2 April 2004 at the International Maritime Organisation in London. Outcome of MEPC 51 - RINA Circular No. 3419/A/E1 RINA Circular No. 3419/A/E1 Enclosure - RINA Circular No. 3419/A/E1 RINA 03/06/2004 Page 1 of 6 OUTCOME OF THE 51ST SESSION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE (MEPC 51) MEPC Resolutions MARPOL Annex IV (Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships): Revised Annex IV Following concerns during the 1990s that Annex IV was not achieving sufficient ratification to achieve entry into force, MEPC reviewed the Annex and, in March 2000, at its 44th session, approved a revised and updated Annex IV to be adopted after the entry into force of Annex IV. Annex IV of MARPOL 73/78 entered into force on 27 September 2003. OUTCOME OF MEPC 51 (items in doc. MEPC 51/22 para. 5.12 and annex 5) The Committee adopted resolution MEPC.115(51) containing the revised Annex IV to MARPOL 73/78 that will enter into force on 1 August 2005. The main differences of the revised Annex IV are: the provisions of the new Annex IV should be applied to ships engaged in international voyages only, instead of all ships; 400 gross tonnage limit instead of 200 and 15 people instead of 10, are fixed for the application of the provisions of Annex IV; 27 September 2008 instead of 27 September 2013 is fixed for the application of Annex IV to existing ships (5 years after entry into force); 3 miles instead of 4 are fixed for the limit imposed when discharging comminuted and disinfected sewage. Administrations shall ensure that ships built before 2 October 1983 shall comply with the requirements of Annex IV as far as practicable. MARPOL Annex V (Regulations for Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships): discharge of Cargo Residues Annex V to MARPOL 73/78 requires that discharge operations or completed incinerations shall be recorded in the Garbage Record Book and signed by the officer in charge. The term garbage includes operational wastes as defined in the Guidelines for the Implementation of Annex V published by IMO and operational wastes include cargo residues. While most types of garbage are clearly covered by the categories reported in the garbage record book, there is no clear guidance on which category is intended to cover cargo residues, therefore frequently details of cargo residue discharges are not being entered in the Garbage Record Book. OUTCOME OF MEPC 51 (items in doc. MEPC 51/22 para. 5.12 and annex 6) The Committee adopted resolution MEPC.116(51) containing amendments to MARPOL Annex V that will enter into force on 1 August 2005. According to the adopted amendments, Garbage Category 4 , listed in the form of the garbage record book comprises also cargo residues. Moreover, when cargo residues are discharged, the ship s start and stop discharging positions are to be recorded in the garbage record book. Draft Amendments to International Conventions and Relevant Mandatory Requirements MARPOL Annex I (Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil): Revised Annex I During MEPC 49 in July 2003, the new MARPOL Annex I was approved in principle with a view to adoption at MEPC 52 in October 2004. OUTCOME OF MEPC 51 (items in doc. MEPC 51/22 12.2 and annex 11) The Committee re-drafted the text of the new Annex I to MARPOL taking also into account the amendments adopted during MEPC 50 in December 2003 and new interpretations approved during this meeting. The revised draft text is expected to be adopted at MEPC 52 in October 2004 and to enter into force on 1 January 2007 together with the revised MARPOL Annex II approved by MEPC 49. Compared to the text in force at the moment, the new Annex I has been rearranged with different chapter numbering and substantial differences have been introduced. The main differences of the new Annex I are, among others: - Regulation 15 Part C allows ships of less than 400 GT to discharge oily mixtures in accordance with the following provisions: .. the ship is proceeding en route; .. the effluent does not exceed 15 ppm of oil; .. the oil mixture does not originate from the cargo pump room or mixed with cargo residues in oil tankers. - Regulation 19.3 contains a new definition of double hull, requiring the entire cargo tank length of oil tankers to be protected by ballast tanks or spaces other than tanks that carry oil, therefore cargoes other than oils will be allowed to be transported in double hull spaces in accordance with the applicable rules, taking into account that according to new regulation 1.18 double hull spaces used for the carriage of ballast water cannot be used for the carriage of noxious liquid substances in bulk. - Regulation 17.1 requires the Oil Record Book Part I for every ship of 400 GT and above, but no longer for oil tankers between 150 and 400 GT. - Item 10 of the Supplement of the IOPP Certificate relevant to oil-like substances has been deleted taking into account that the revised MARPOL Annex II no longer contains provisions for the carriage of oil-like substances. Page 2 of 6 - In Unified Interpretation 26.1, listing exceptional cases when oil cargo tanks can be filled with ballast water, the following two cases have been added: close-up inspection or/and steel thickness measurement using rafts where permitted by the rules; tank hydrostatic pressure tests. - Regulation 39 requests fixed and floating platforms, floating production, storage and offloading facilities (FPSOs) and floating storage units (FSUs) to comply, as far as practicable, with: regulation 12 (sludge tanks) regulation 14 (oil filtering equipment) and to record all operations involving oil or oily mixtures discharged. Such discharge is prohibited except when the oil content is below 15 ppm. Circular MEPC/Circ.406 Guidelines for the application of MARPOL Annex I requirements to FPSOs and FSUs is to be taken into account in verifying compliance with the above-mentioned requirements. - Unified Interpretation approved at MEPC 50, specifying that category 2 tankers are to be provided with segregated ballast tanks protectively located (SBT/PL), has been incorporated in the revised Annex I as Unified Interpretation 33. - Regulations 13G and 13H, adopted by MEPC 50, have been incorporated into the revised Annex I and renumbered as regulations 20 and 21. IBC Code (International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk): Revised IBC Code The Committee is revising the IBC Code taking also into account the new polluting categories contained in the revised Annex II to MARPOL finalized at MEPC 49, which is expected to be adopted at MEPC 52 in October 2004, and to enter into force on 1 January 2007. Polluting substances are now divided in three main categories (X,Y,Z), where X products are the main polluting and Z the less. A fourth category of Other Substances (OS), containing harmless products not subject to the MARPOL 73/78 Annex II requirements, has been added. OUTCOME OF MEPC 51 (items in doc. MEPC 51/22 para. 11.56.8 and annex 10) The revised text of the IBC Code was approved by the Committee and is expected to be adopted at MEPC 52 in October 2004, and to enter into force on 1 January 2007 together with the revised MARPOL Annex II. The IBC Code criteria for assigning carriage requirements have been revised taking also into account the new categorization of polluting substances and in the new chapter 21 all the parameters to be considered for the categorization are listed. Accordingly, the new chapters 17 and 18 contain the new carriage requirements for chemicals. The final categorization of all vegetable oils has not yet been completed due to a lack of data on polluting/hazard characteristics, but they are expected to be classified as ship type 2 or 3 products. However, a more complete categorization is expected to be available at MEPC 52. Moreover, the following main changes have been introduced into the revised IBC Code: - Chapter 19 of the existing IBC Code, relevant to incineration at sea of chemical wastes, was deleted as this activity is no longer permitted. - Regulation 1.5 was amended in order to take into account the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC). - New Regulation 3.1.4 clarifies some operational methods of separating piping and cargo ventilation systems and requires operational methods not to be used within cargo tanks. - Regulation 6.2 (special requirements for materials) has been deleted, and a new regulation 6.3, assigning responsibility for cargo/material compatibility to the shipper of the cargo and the ship operator, has been added (to be considered by MSC 78 in May 2004). - New regulation 8.3.3 has been added in order to better specify how the controlled tank venting system, requested for cargo tanks, is to be designed. Page 3 of 6 - The first aid equipment required by old regulation 14.2.9, now renumbered 14.3.2 is to be in compliance with the Medical First Aid Guide for Use in Accidents Involving Dangerous Goods (MFAG). - Regulation 15.1 on Acetone cyanohydrin has been deleted. - New regulations 15.3.11 to 15.3.27 have been introduced, specifying carriage requirements for carbon disulphide under water/inert gas pad. - Procedures for inspection, cleaning, passivation and loading of tanks for the carriage of hydrogen peroxide solutions (Circular MSC/Circ.394) are now detailed in the new regulation 15.5.3. - The new regulation 15.10.7 has substituted note l to chapter 17, requiring for the carriage of sulphur (molten) electrical equipment to be certified safe for gas evolved. MARPOL Annex I (Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil): Protection of pump rooms and SOPE plan OUTCOME OF MEPC 51 (items in doc. MEPC 51/22 para. 10.19 and annex 9) In order to increase the safety of oil tankers, the Committee approved draft amendments to MARPOL Annex I requesting oil tankers of 5.000 tons deadweight and above, constructed on or after 1 January 2007, to be provided with pump rooms fitted with a double bottom. Moreover, the Committee approved another amendment requiring oil tankers of 5.000 tons deadweight and above to have prompt access to computerized shore-based programs for performing damage stability and residual strength calculations. The double bottom may be exempted when the flooding of the pump room would not render the cargo pumping system inoperative. These amendments are expected to be adopted at MEPC 52 in October 2004, together with the text of the revised MARPOL Annex I approved at MEPC 51, and to enter into force on 1 January 2007. Particularly Sensitive Areas (PSSA) When an area is approved as a particularly sensitive sea area, specific measures can be used to control the maritime activities in that area, such as routing measures, strict application of MARPOL discharge and equipment requirements for ships, such as oil tankers; and installation of Vessel Traffic Services (VTS). OUTCOME OF MEPC 51 (items in doc. MEPC 51/22 para. 8.47) The Committee approved in principle the designation of: - the waters of the Canary Islands; - the Galapagos Archipelago; - the Baltic Sea as PSSA, subject to MEPC 52 confirmation. Page 4 of 6 Other Matters MARPOL Annex I (Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil): New unified Interpretation on the carriage of heavy grade oils According to the new regulation 13H, adopted during MEPC 50 in December 2003 through resolution MEPC.111(50) entering into force on 5 April 2005, oil tankers of 600 tons deadweight and above but less than 5000, carrying heavy grade oils as cargo shall be double hull constructed, in compliance with the requirements of Reg. 13F or equivalent double hull construction, not later than the anniversary of the date of delivery of the ship in 2008. However, according to Regulation 13F such tankers are not requested to be double hull constructed when cargo tanks are so arranged that the capacity of each cargo tank does not exceed 700 m3. OUTCOME OF MEPC 51 (items in doc. MEPC 51/22 para. 12.11 and annex 12 The Committee agreed on a new unified interpretation stating that wing tanks, requested for the protection of the entire cargo tank length for the purpose of compliance with regulation 13H on oil tankers below 5.000 tons DWT, can be used as cargo tanks for the carriage of oils other than heavy grade oils, when the ship is provided with cargo tanks so arranged that the capacity of each cargo tank does not exceed 700 m3. This interpretation has also been incorporated in the revised Annex I that is expected to be adopted at MEPC 52 in October 2004. MARPOL Annex I (Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil): New unified Interpretation on the execution of CAS According to CAS amendments, adopted during MEPC 50 in December 2003 through resolution MEPC.112(50) entering into force on 5 April 2005, Cat. 2 and Cat. 3 oil tankers of 15 years of age and above are requested to comply with the CAS survey regime and, in order to fulfill this requirement, the first CAS survey shall be carried out concurrent with the first scheduled intermediate or renewal survey after 5 April 2005 or when the ship reaches 15 years of age, whichever occurs later. OUTCOME OF MEPC 51 (items in doc. MEPC 51/22 para. 17.39 and annex 12 The Committee, in order to clarify the due date requested for the execution of the CAS survey, agreed on a new unified interpretation stating that: The first CAS survey shall be carried out concurrent with the first intermediate or renewal survey: - after 5 April 2005, or - after the date when the ship reaches 15 years of age, whichever occurs later. This interpretation has also been incorporated in the revised Annex I that is expected to be adopted at MEPC 52 in October 2004. Page 5 of 6 MARPOL Annex VI (Regulations for Prevention of Air Pollution): Entry into Force On 29 March 2004, the ratification process of Annex VI to MARPOL 73/78 needed only the ratification of three more States to satisfy the conditions for the entry into force of the Annex. OUTCOME OF MEPC 51 (items in doc. MEPC 51/22 para. 4.2) The Committee welcomed the statements made by Barbados, Cyprus, Japan and Poland that their national procedures for the ratification of the 1997 protocol to MARPOL 73/78 have reached the final stage and that they would be able to deposit their instrument of ratification for Annex VI before the end of 2004. This would mean that the Annex might enter into force before the end of 2005. Annex VI entry into force conditions were satisfied on 18 May 2004, therefore it will enter into force on 19 May 2005. IBC Code (International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk): Carriage of vegetable oils on dry cargo ships Even if the final new categorization of all vegetable oils has not yet been completed due to the lack of information on polluting/hazard characteristics of these substances, according to the new revision of the IBC Code these products are expected to be classified as ship type 2 or 3 products. This stricter transport requirement raised some doubts about the possible disruption of particular trades of these products that are currently transported also on dry cargo ships without any ship type requirement. OUTCOME OF MEPC 51 (items in doc. MEPC 51/22 para. 11.20 and MEPC 51/11 annex 4) In order to ensure the continuation of the current mode of transport of these vegetable oils on specifically identified trades, where the lack of availability of chemical tankers is demonstrated, the Committee approved a draft MEPC resolution containing the guidelines for the transport of vegetable oils in deeptanks or in independent tanks in general dry cargo ships . These guidelines will apply only under the following conditions: the vegetable oils are carried in deeptanks or independent tanks in general dry cargo ships, specifically designed for the carriage of such oils and provided with a valid Noxious Liquid Substances (NLS) certificate, requested by MARPOL Annex II, issued before 1 January 2007; the products allowed to be carried are restricted to those with a pollution hazard only; the ship complies with all discharge requirements under Annex II to MARPOL 73/78. These guidelines are expected to be adopted at MEPC 52 in October 2004 and to enter into force in January 2007 together with the revised MARPOL Annex II and IBC Code. Page 6 of 6 RINA Egypt L.L.C. - Suez