Amendments to MARPOL Annex II to strengthen, in specified sea areas, discharge necessities for cargo residues and tank washings containing persistent floating merchandise with a high-viscosity and/or a excessive melting level that may solidify underneath sure circumstances (e.g. sure vegetable oils and paraffin-like cargoes), following issues concerning the environmental influence of permissible discharges.

The amendments add new paragraphs to MARPOL Annex II Regulation 13 – Control of discharges of residues of noxious liquid substances, to require prewash and discharge of residue/water combination generated throughout the prewash to a reception facility, for particular merchandise, in specified areas (North West European waters, Baltic Sea space, Western European waters and Norwegian Sea).

1 January 2021 – IBC code, IMSBC code, ESP code

Adopted by MSC 101:

• A complete set of amendments to the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code), together with the revised chapters 17 (Summary of minimal necessities), 18 (List of merchandise to which the code doesn’t apply), 19 (Index of Products Carried in Bulk) and 21 (Criteria for assigning carriage necessities for merchandise topic to the IBC Code).

Representation Image – Credits: Cameron Venti /greenshippingproject.com / Unsplash

• The consolidated version of the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code), incorporating modification 05-19. The 2019 amendments embody updates to varied schedules, similar to new particular person schedule for BAUXITE FINES as a Group A cargo, in addition to editorial amendments. The amendments are integrated right into a consolidated IMSBC Code, to incorporate all amendments up to now, for the reason that IMSBC Code was first adopted in 2008.
• Amendments to the International Code on the Enhanced Programme of Inspections During Surveys of Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers, 2011 (2011 ESP Code), to replace the Code.

1 April 2022

Adopted by MEPC 75:

Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI on sulphur content material definition and sampling

• Amendments to Regulation 2 ‘Definitions’, to incorporate new definitions for “Sulphur content of fuel oil” – that means the focus of sulphur in any gasoline oil, measured in % m/m as examined in accordance with commonplace acceptable to the Organization; “Low-flashpoint fuel”, to imply gaseous or liquid gasoline having a flashpoint decrease than in any other case permitted underneath paragraph 2.1.1 of SOLAS regulation II-2/4; “MARPOL delivered sample”, to imply the pattern of gasoline oil delivered in accordance with regulation 18.8.1 of MARPOL Annex VI; “In-use sample”, to imply the pattern of gasoline oil in use on a ship; and “On board sample”, to imply the pattern of gasoline oil supposed for use or carried to be used on board that ship.
• Fuel oil sampling and testing – amendments to Regulation 14 ‘Sulphur oxides (SOX) and particulate matter’, so as to add new paragraphs associated to in-use and onboard gasoline oil sampling and testing, so as to add new paragraphs to require a number of sampling factors to be fitted or designated for the aim of taking consultant samples of the gasoline oil getting used or carried to be used on board the ship. The consultant samples of the gasoline oil getting used on board are to be taken with a view to confirm the gasoline oil complies with the regulation.
• Appendix I amendments to the International Air Pollution Prevention (IAPP) certificates – Consequential amendments to replace the IAPP certificates so as to add a reference to sampling factors and likewise to notice the place there’s an exemption to the availability for low-flashpoint gasoline.
• Appendix VI on the Fuel verification process for MARPOL Annex VI gasoline oil samples consequential amendments to verification procedures, to cowl verification of the consultant samples of in-use gasoline oil and on board gasoline oil.

1 June 2022

Adopted by MEPC 75:

Amendments to BWM Convention

• Amendments to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (BWM Convention), regarding commissioning testing of ballast water administration techniques and the type of the International Ballast Water Management Certificate.

1 June 2022 – IMDG Code 40-20

Adopted by MSC 102:

• Amendments to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) (modification 40-20) associated to segregation necessities for alcoholates; segregation in relation to liquid natural substances; classification and transport of carbon, following incidents involving the spontaneous ignition of charcoal; classification of UN transportable tanks for multimodal transport; and provisions for labels.

1 January 2024 – SOLAS data of apparatus, FSS code, IGF code, LSA code

Adopted by MSC 101:

• Amendments to the appendix to the annex to the 1974 SOLAS, regarding the addition of a footnote to Forms C, E and P within the Records of Equipment.
• Amendments to chapter 15 of the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code), regarding inert gasoline techniques.
• Amendments to components A and A-1 of the International Code of Safety for Ships utilizing Gases or different Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code), together with these regarding rules on loading restrict for liquefied gasoline gasoline tanks, rules for gasoline distribution exterior of equipment house, rules for inside combustion engines of piston kind and hearth safety for gasoline storage maintain house; and amendments regarding the safety of the gasoline provide for liquefied gasoline gasoline tanks, geared toward stopping explosions.
• Amendments to chapters IV and VI of the International Life-Saving Appliance Code (LSA Code), regarding common necessities for lifeboats and launching and embarkation home equipment.

Adopted by MSC 102: protected mooring

• Amendments to chapter II-1 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), associated to towing and mooring. The amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/3-8 (Towing and mooring tools), require acceptable and safe-to-use designs of mooring preparations and introduce a upkeep and inspection regime, in addition to correct documentation. Related pointers have been additionally adopted, overlaying the design of mooring preparations and the number of acceptable mooring tools and fittings for protected mooring; and inspection and upkeep of mooring tools together with traces; in addition to revised steering on shipboard towing and mooring tools.
• Amendments to components B-1, B-2, and B-4 of SOLAS chapter II-1 associated to watertight integrity necessities. The amendments are anticipated to enter into power on 1 January 2024.
• Amendments to the International Code of Safety for Ships utilizing Gases or different Low flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code), associated to the gasoline containment techniques, hearth security, welding of metallic supplies, and non-destructive testing.
• Amendments to the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code), associated to welding process exams for cargo tanks and course of stress vessels.

Reference: imo.org