8 February 2013: International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu addressed the 17th Session of the Sub-Committee on Bulk and Liquid Gases (BLG), urging action on many agenda items and technical issues under consideration.

Sekimizu urged the Sub-Committee, which met from 4-8 February 2013, to accelerate its work on the development of an international code of safety for ships using gases or other low flash fuels (IGF code), noting the potential for its timely completion to allow ships to meet more stringent requirements for reduction of sulphur oxides (SOx) and nitrous oxides (NOx) emissions. He urged the Sub-Committee to consider the need to amend the NOx Technical Code 2008 to include gas as a test fuel to ensure dual fuel engines are appropriately certified. He also encouraged the Sub-Committee to expedite work on considering the impact on the Arctic of emissions of Black Carbon from international shipping.

On the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code), Sekimizu underscored the importance of existing safety standards as part of the review of criteria in Chapter 21 (assigning carriage requirements for products subject to the code). In addition, Sekimizu urged the Sub-Committee to finalize the draft circular on ballast water sampling and analysis, expressing concern that the conditions for the entry into force of the Ballast Water Management Convention have not been met.

As part of its outcome, the Sub-Committee agreed on: a revised International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (the IGC Code), which will be submitted to the 92nd session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) for approval in June 2013 with a view to adoption at MSC 93; draft amendments to the NOx Technical Code 2008, for approval by the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) 65th session; draft amendments to the IBC Code, for consideration by MEPC 65 and MSC 92; draft amendments to the Revised Guidelines and Specifications for Oil Discharge Monitoring and Control Oil Systems for Oil Tankers, to include requirements for biofuel blend containing 75% or more of petroleum oil; a draft MEPC circular on guidance for evaluating the 2011 Guidelines for the control and management of ships’ biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species, for approval by MEPC 65; and finalized a draft circular on Guidance concerning ballast water sampling and analysis for trial use. [IMO Press Release] [Outcomes of 17th Session of BLG Sub-Committee] [Information on Air Pollution from Ships]