The International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed to adopt mandatory energy efficiency design standards for new ships industry to bring down emissions.

The industry has consistently resisted taking any measures to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, but finally bowed to pressure at its annual meeting in London last week.

The new regulations will require the use of an Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new ships, stipulating a specific level of energy efficiency to be attained, and a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) for all ships.

The amendments to the MARPOL regulations, which are expected to come into force in January 2013, will apply to all ships of 400 gross tonnage and above.

Ships built between 2015 and 2019 will have to be 10% more efficient, rising to 20% between 2020 and 2024 and 30% thereafter.

But new ships already contracted or under construction in developing nations when the new regulations come into force may be exempt from the scheme.

“Although not by consensus – which of course would be the ideal outcome – the Committee has now adopted amendments… introducing mandatory technical and operational measures for the energy efficiency of ships,” commented IMO secretary-general Efthimios E. Mitropoulos.

He added that he hopes all members of the IMO will now join in to ensure that the measures work.

For further information:
www.imo.org

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