MARPOL Annex VI Amendments adopted at MEPC 75 - In effect on 1st April 2022

On 26.11.2020, the Club provided a summary on the outcome of IMO’s MEPC 75 which took place remotely from 16-20 November 2020.

This summary which can be accessed in full here included a report on the adoption by MEPC 75 of the below amendments to MARPOL Annex VI. These amendments will enter into force on 1 April 2022.

1. Strengthening of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) "phase 3" requirements

   This amendment brought forward the entry into effect date of phase 3 from 2025 to 1 April 2022 for several ship types including gas carriers, general cargo ships and LNG carriers. As such, ships built (with their keels laid) on or after 1 April 2022, must be significantly more energy efficient than the baseline.

2. New provisions for fuel oil sampling, testing and verification

   Amendments to Regulation 14, ‘Sulphur oxides (SOX) and particulate matter’, to require one or more  sampling points to be fitted or designated for the purpose of taking representative samples of fuel oil in use, were approved. Ships built (with their keels laid) on or after 1 April 2022 must have fitted or designated sampling points for taking samples of fuel oil in use.