The latest session of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) focused on progressing the implementation of the 2023 IMO Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Strategy. Among the key outcomes was the approval of a new Chapter 5 to MARPOL Annex VI, laying the groundwork for a global GHG Fuel Intensity (GFI) regulatory framework for ships above 5,000 gross tonnage (gt). The session also approved a new Emission Control Area (ECA) and addressed several sustainability-related topics.
New Chapter 5 of MARPOL Annex VI Targets GHG Reduction
A major milestone was the approval of a new Chapter 5 under MARPOL Annex VI. The amendments—expected to be formally adopted in an extraordinary MEPC session in October 2025—will require ships over 5,000 gt to report their annual weighted average GHG Fuel Intensity (GFI) starting in 2028. GFI will be assessed on a Well-to-Wake basis using verified IMO-approved data.
Ships failing to meet the annual GFI targets will need to purchase “remedial units”, while ships outperforming targets can trade, bank, or forfeit “surplus units.” The regulation proposes a two-tier compliance system:
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Base Target: 4% annual GFI reduction
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Direct Compliance Target: 17% annual GFI reduction
Remedial units will be priced based on the gap between a ship’s performance and the targets. Notably, ships falling below the base target will incur higher penalties, reinforcing the strategy’s “polluter pays” principle. By 2035, the GFI threshold will be 43% lower than 2008 levels.
New North-East Atlantic Emission Control Area Approved
The IMO also approved the creation of a North-East Atlantic Emission Control Area (ECA) under MARPOL Annex VI. The ECA is expected to enter into force in 2027, with stricter fuel and engine standards to follow:
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Sulphur cap: Maximum 0.10% sulphur content in fuel from March 2028
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NOx compliance: Ships contracted on or after January 1, 2027, must meet NOx Tier III standards while sailing in the area
This move aligns with global efforts to improve air quality and reduce health and environmental impacts from maritime emissions.
Other Developments: Biofuel Carriage and Regulation Reviews
Further decisions from the session included:
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Agreement on biofuel blend carriage aboard conventional bunker ships
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Approval of guidance on in-water cleaning of ship biofouling
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Review outcomes of the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) regulations
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Updates on the implementation of the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention
These advancements collectively reflect the IMO’s continued push toward a greener and more resilient maritime sector, while balancing innovation, regulation, and environmental responsibility.
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Source: BRITANNIA P&I CLUB
