UK P&I details the upcoming amendments in the IMO Regulatory Update 2023/2024.
Introduction
2023 marked the implementation of the much-anticipated Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and carbon intensity indicator (CII) regulations that are aimed at optimising ships’ energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The implementation of these regulations demonstrates the maritime sector’s commitment to environmental protection through the adoption of more sustainable practices and underscores the industry’s role in mitigating climate change.
The regulatory landscape remains dynamic and constantly evolving. It is therefore imperative to keep abreast of industry developments and understand the challenges when addressing compliance-related issues or deliberating commercial decisions. This article aims to provide an overview of some of the important IMO regulations that will enter into force in end-2023 and 2024.
Regulation coming into force on 1 December 2023
IMSBC code amendments (06-21) – MSC.500(105)
Updates to the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) code, which were applicable on a voluntary basis since 1 January 2023, will enter into force on 1 December 2023. These include, but are not limited to, the following changes:
The definition of Group A cargoes has been revised to include ‘dynamic separation’ in addition to ‘liquefaction’. The new definitions are as follows:
- Dynamic separation means the phenomenon of forming a liquid slurry (water and fine solids) above the solid material, resulting in a free surface effect that may significantly affect the ship’s stability.
- Group A consists of cargoes that pose a hazard due to moisture that may result in liquefaction or dynamic separation if shipped at a moisture content in excess of their transportable moisture limit.
The following changes have been affected in Appendix 1 (individual schedule of solid bulk cargoes):
- New cargo entries:
-
Bulk cargo shipping name (BCSN) Group Hazard AMMONIUM NITRATE BASED FERTILISER C – AMMONIUM NITRATE BASED FERTILISER B MHB (OH) CLAM SHELL C – LEACH RESIDUE CONTAINING LEAD A and B MHB (TX and CR) SUPERPHOSPHATE (triple, granular) B MHB (CR) - Deleted cargoes from the solid bulk cargo list:
-
Bulk cargo shipping name (BCSN) Group Hazard AMMONIUM NITRATE BASED FERTILISER C – SUPERPHOSPHATE (triple, granular) C –
Members who are involved in the transport of solid bulk cargoes are recommended to ensure compliance with the latest amendments.
Regulations coming into force on 1 January 2024
IMDG code amendments (41-22) – MSC.501(105)
Updates to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code, which were applicable on a voluntary basis since 1 January 2023, will enter into force on 1 January 2024.
These amendments are in line with the updates to the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, 22nd edition, which set the recommendations for all transport modes.
Based on these amendments, the following revised circulars will also be applicable from 1 January 2024:
- Revised recommendations on the safe use of pesticides in ships applicable to the fumigation of cargo transport units (MSC.1/Circ.1361/Rev.1) and
- Revised Emergency Response Procedures for Ships carrying dangerous goods (EmS Guide) (MSC.1/Circ.1588/Rev.2).
Members who are involved in the transport of dangerous goods in packaged from a recommended to ensure compliance with the latest amendments.
Amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/3-8 on towing and mooring equipment – MSC.474(102)
The objective of these amendments is to improve mooring safety by establishing new requirements for the selection, arrangement, inspection, maintenance, and replacement of mooring equipment, including lines. Documentation pertaining to the design of mooring arrangements and the selection of mooring equipment will be required to be provided and retained on board.
These requirements are incorporated in SOLAS regulation II-1/3-8 on towing and mooring equipment, and are supported by the following guidelines:
- Guidelines on the design of mooring arrangements and the selection of appropriate mooring equipment and fittings for safe mooring (MSC.1/Circ. 1619)
- Guidelines for inspection and maintenance of mooring equipment including lines (MSC.1/Circ.1620)
- Revised guidance on shipboard towing and mooring equipment (MSC.1/Circ. 1175/Rev.1)
- Unified interpretation of SOLAS Chapter II-1 (MSC.1/Circ.1362/Rev.2)
The design requirements will apply to new cargo and passenger ships constructed on or after 1 January 2024 that are above 3000 GT and should also apply to ships of 3000 GT and below as far as reasonably practicable. However, the maintenance and inspection requirements will be applied retroactively for all ships.
Members with new-built ships (i.e., building contract signed on or after 1 January 2024, or in the absence of a building contract if keel laid on or after 1 July 2024, or if the ship is delivered on or after 1 January 2027) are recommended to refer to the Class rules on design requirements and be guided accordingly.
Existing ships are recommended to refer to review their current procedures for the inspection and maintenance of mooring equipment and lines, to ensure that they are in line with the above-mentioned guidelines.
Amendments to SOLAS chapter II-1 parts B-2 and B-4 on watertight integrity – MSC.474(102)
These amendments align the design criteria for watertight integrity in parts B-2 to B-4 with the probabilistic damage stability approach in parts B and B-1 and will apply to new cargo and passenger ships constructed on or after 1 January 2024. It will not have any impact on existing ships.
Similarly, the requirement for watertight doors in MARPOL Annex I, the Loadline Convention, the IBC Code, and the IGC Code have been revised to align with the requirements in SOLAS.
The amendments to the Loadline Convention and the IBC Code will enter into force on 1 January 2024, and the amendments to MARPOL Annex I and the IGC Code will enter into force on 1 July 2024.
Amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/25-1 on water level detectors on multiple hold cargo ships other than bulk carriers and tankers – MSC.482(103)
This new SOLAS regulation II-1/25-1 requires multiple hold cargo ships other than bulk carriers and tankers constructed on or after 1 January 2024 to be fitted with water level detectors in each cargo hold intended for dry cargoes. It harmonizes the requirements for bulk carriers and non-bulk carriers, and will not apply to tankers, liquid holds, and tanks entirely above the freeboard deck.
The water level detectors are required to be fitted in the aft end of the cargo holds and should be capable of giving audible and visual alarms at the navigation bridge when the water level reaches a height of 0.3m above the bottom of the cargo hold, and again when the water level reaches a height of 15% of the depth of the cargo hold. The visual alarms should be capable of distinguishing between the two different water levels detected in each hold. For cargo holds which are occasionally used for water ballast, an alarm overriding device may be installed.
Consequently, the IMO Resolution MSC.188(79)/Rev.1 on “Revised Performance Standards for Water Level Detectors on Ships Subject to SOLAS Regulations II-1/25, II-1/25-1 and XII/12” will enter into force from 1 January 2024 to align with the new SOLAS requirements.
Members with new-built cargo ships (i.e., building contract signed on or after 1 January 2024, or in the absence of a building contract if keel laid on or after 1 July 2024, or if the ship is delivered on or after 1 January 2028), except tankers and bulk carriers, are recommended to refer to the Class rules on design requirements and be guided accordingly.
Amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-1 and IGF Code – MSC.458(101) and MSC.475(102)
These amendments are aimed at improving the application of the International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code) by considering lessons learned so far.
Members with ships constructed or converted to use gas as fuel on or after 1 January 2024 are recommended to refer to the Class rules on design requirements and be guided accordingly.
Amendments to SOLAS Chapter VII and IGC Code – MSC.476(102)
Amendments to the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) extend the cross-weld tensile strength to materials such as aluminium alloys.
These amendments will apply to ships that are subject to the IGC Code and use high-manganese steel in the construction of tanks carrying low-temperature cargo.
Revised FAL Convention – FAL.14(46)
Amendments to the Facilitation (FAL) Convention will make the single window for data exchange mandatory in ports worldwide, accelerating digitalization in shipping. The amendments also address lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and introduce measures to prevent corruption and illicit activities in the maritime sector.
Members are recommended to refer to the IMO website for further reference.
Regulations coming into force on 1 May 2024
Amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV, V, and VI on port reception facilities in the Arctic region – MEPC.359(79), MEPC.360(79) and MEPC.362(79)
These amendments allow States with ports in the Arctic region to enter into regional arrangements for port reception facilities. Members wishing to discharge oil, noxious liquid substances, sewage, garbage, or air pollution waste to port reception facilities would need to be aware that there may be regional arrangements in place and reception facilities may not be available at every port.
Amendments to MARPOL Annex V on Garbage Record Books for smaller ships – MEPC.360(79)
These amendments make the Garbage Record Book mandatory for ships of 100GT and above and less than 400GT. This extends the requirement for mandatory garbage record books to smaller ships, which will be required to keep records of their garbage handling operations, namely discharges to a reception facility ashore or to other ships, garbage incineration, permitted discharges of garbage into the sea, and accidental or other exceptional discharged or loss of garbage into the sea. This move supports the implementation of IMO’s Strategy and Action Plan to address marine plastic litter from ships.
From 1 May 2024, members with ships of 100GT and above are recommended to take note of these requirements and maintain a Garbage Record Book onboard and record all discharges into the sea or port reception facilities or garbage incineration-related entries.
Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, Regulation 14, and Appendix VII on Mediterranean Sea ECA – MEPC.361(79)
From 1 May 2024, the Mediterranean Sea will be designated as an Emission Control Area (ECA) for sulphur oxides (SOx) and particular matter (PM); however, these requirements will take effect from 1 May 2025 and then onwards it will be mandatory for ships to either use fuel oil with a sulphur content of 0.10% m/m or utilize an exhaust gas cleaning system (EGCS) while sailing through the Mediterranean Sea ECA.
Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, Appendix V on fuel flashpoint to be included in BDN – MEPC.362(79)
These amendments require fuel suppliers to include the flashpoint of the fuel oil or a statement that the flashpoint has been measured at or above 70oC as mandatory information in the bunker delivery note (BDN).
From 1 May 2024, members are recommended to ensure that the BDNs provided by the fuel suppliers comply with the revised requirements.
Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, Appendix IX on information to be submitted to IMO-DCS – MEPC.362(79)
These amendments are in line with the latest SEEMP Guidelines published under MEPC.346(78) and will require all ships of 5000GT and above, except those identified under MARPOL Regulation 19.2, to report EEXI, CII, and rating values to the IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Database (IMO DCS).
Regulations coming into force on 1 July 2024
Amendments to MARPOL Annex I on HFO ban in Arctic waters – MEPC.329(76)
A new regulation 43A in Chapter 9 of MARPOL Annex I will introduce a ban on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil (HFO) in Arctic waters on and after 1 July 2024.
The prohibition will cover the use and carriage for use as fuel of oils having a density at 15°C higher than 900 kg/m3 or a kinematic viscosity of 50°C higher than 180 mm2/s. However, the carriage of heavy fuel oil as cargo is not prohibited.
The application will be to all ships, except for ships engaged in securing the safety of ships or in search and rescue operations, and ships dedicated to oil spill preparedness and response.
Members with ships operating in and around the Arctic region are recommended to take note of these amendments. There are, however, exemptions for ships with fuel tanks protected by double hulls, and waivers for ships flying the flag of countries with a coastline bordering on Arctic, which will allow these ships to continue carry HFO for use until 1 July 2029.
New SOLAS chapter XV and the new mandatory Code for Industrial Personnel (IP Code) – MSC.521(106) and MSC.527(106)
A new SOLAS chapter XV and the associated new International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel (IP Code) is aimed to provide minimum safety standards for ships that carry industrial personnel, as well as for the personnel themselves, and address specific risks of maritime operations within the offshore and energy sectors, such as personnel transfer operations. Such personnel may be engaged in the construction, maintenance, decommissioning, operation, or servicing of offshore facilities, such as wind farms, as well as offshore oil and gas installations, aquaculture, ocean mining, or similar activities.
Members with ships engaged in transport or accommodating industrial personnel will need to comply with the new IP Code. Such ships shall have onboarded a valid Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate. Pending entry into force of the above-mentioned requirements, the Interim Recommendations on the Safe Carriage of more than 12 Industrial Personnel onboard Vessels Engaged on International Voyages as outlined under MSC.418(97) may be applied.
Amendments to the 2011 ESP Code – MSC.525(106)
Amendments to the International Code on the Enhanced Programme of Inspections during Surveys of Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers, 2011 (2011 ESP Code) are intended to align the requirements for inspections of void spaces bounding cargo holds with the existing requirements for inspections of water ballast tanks.
For ships that have undergone a major conversion into a bulk carrier or ships that were originally designed to be a bulk carrier and have been subjected to a major conversion, additional amendments would require such tanks and other spaces to be subject to annual examinations if the tank structure has been subjected to major conversion and where a hard protective coating is found to be in “less than GOOD” condition.
Members with bulk carriers of single-side skin and double-side skin construction or oil tankers are recommended to refer to these amendments and be guided accordingly.
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Source: UK P&I
