Following extensive efforts by IBIA to highlight the issue of the carriage of greater than B25 biofuels by MARPOL Annex I certified bunker vessels, IMO has issued circular MEPC.1/Circ.917 Interim guidance on the carriage of blends of biofuels and MARPOL Annex I cargoes by conventional bunker ships.
Interim Guidance on Biofuel Blends
IBIA had raised the incongruity of the issue (it had already been agreed that B30 is compliant with NOx emission requirements under MARPOL Annex VI) at MEPC 81 in March 2024 and following consideration by ESPH 30 in October 2024 and a recommendation by PPR 12 in January this year, MEPC 83 held in April approved circular MEPC.1/Circ.917.
The guidance permits the transport of blends of not more than 30% by volume of biofuel, providing all residues or tank washings are discharged ashore unless the oil discharge monitoring equipment (ODME) is approved/certified for the biofuel blend(s) being shipped. The interim guidelines also confirm that an IOPP certificate showing “oil tanker” issued to a conventional bunker ship carrying blends between 25% and 30% biofuel or synthetic fuel does not need to be modified.
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Source: IMO
