IMO Conventions
that new ships meet a minimum energy efficiency level. Reference lines have been established for different ship types and sizes based on the average efficiency of ships built between 2000 and 2010. With phase 1 starting in 2015, new ships in general had to be 10% more efficient than the reference line, with this target increasing a further 10% every five years until 2025 (see Figure 2 ) (IMO, 2016). Shipbuilders have been successful at developing more efficient designs, as well as using lower design speeds, such that for some sectors the 2025 target date for a 30% reduction versus the reference line has been brought forward to 2022. Figure 3 illustrates this with attained EEDI data for container vessels (IMO, 2018). In 2016, the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the IMO agreed to the establishment of a Data Collection System (DCS) for fuel oil consumption of ships, requiring all ships • Regulations for international shipping developed at IMO take the form of Conventions, which then need to be ratified by a quorum of IMO Member Countries before they take effect. • Once ratified, the Conventions can be updated by a Committee following due process to ensure that modifications are supported by a majority of Parties to the Convention.
above 5000 gross tonnage to collect and report fuel consumption data for each type of fuel oil they use. Some additional data has to be reported, including a proxy for transport work. This data collection process allows IMO to obtain more accurate data on fuel consumption and carbon intensity of shipping. It also may provide a solid basis for future Market Based Measures, such as a CO 2 tax, an emissions trading system, or a fuel carbon standard. As IMO’s work on GHG emissions progressed, it became clear that improving ship efficiency would not be enough to reduce emissions from international shipping sufficiently to be consistent with the UNFCCC’s target established by the Paris Agreement. Therefore, IMO embarked on the development of a comprehensive GHG reduction strategy. An initial strategy was adopted in 2018, setting three specific objectives (see Boxout 2 ), and laying out a plan to firm up the strategy, • Air pollution matters are covered by a dedicated Annex to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, customarily referred to as MARPOL Annex VI. • The Convention and its Annexes are administered and maintained up-to-date by IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC).
0%
-10%
-30% -20% -15%
Phase 3: 2025+ Phase 2: 2020-2025 Phase 1: 2015-2020 Phase 0: 2013-2015
Capacity (DWT or GT)
Cut o limit
Figure 2 EEDI concept with EEDI phases
Source: IMO, 2016
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