21 May 2013: The 65th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has made progress on energy efficiency regulations, technology transfer, and the measurement of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Participants adopted an MEPC Resolution on the Promotion of Technical Co-operation and Transfer of Technology relating to the Improvement of Energy Efficiency of Ships. The resolution requests the IMO to provide technical assistance and help source funding for capacity building to facilitate the transfer of energy efficiency technologies to developing countries.

Following expert discussions earlier this year, the MEPC also approved the terms of reference (TOR) and agreed to initiate a study to update GHG emission estimates for international shipping, which IMO most recently placed at 870 million tones of carbon dioxide, or 2.7% percent of global emissions, for the year 2007.

The Committee made further progress towards developing technical and operational energy-efficiency regulations required under the new chapter 4 of The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex VI, which entered in to force on 1 January 2013. The new regulations apply to new ships in respect to the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), and to all ships under the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP). Regarding future work on energy efficiency, the Committee endorsed a work plan to further develop the EEDI framework and propulsion systems not yet covered by EEDI, and agreed to consider additional technical and operational proposals at MEPC 66.

The 65th session of the MEPC took place at IMO headquarters in London, UK, from 13-17 May 2013. [IMO Press Release 9 May 2013] [IMO Press Release 21 May 2013]