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IMO's CII and EEXI rules enter into force
International Maritime Organization (IMO) amendments on ship efficiency come into force two months ahead of the mandatory energy efficiency calculations that will be required of all ships from 1 January 2023
Amendments to IMO’s International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (Marpol) Annex VI enter into force 1 November 2022.
Developed under the framework of the initial IMO strategy on the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships agreed in 2018, the technical and operational amendments are aimed at requiring energy efficiency improvements and reductions in overall GHG emissions from the global shipping fleet.
The amendments are the first regulations to be rolled out in IMO’s decarbonisation efforts, and are classified as "short-term measures", as part of IMO’s commitment to curbing carbon intensity from all ships in the merchant fleet by 40% by 2030, as compared to 2008 emissions levels.
"From 1 January 2023, it will be mandatory for all ships to calculate their attained Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) to measure their energy efficiency and to initiate the collection of data for the reporting of their annual operational carbon intensity indicator (CII) and CII rating," a statement from IMO said.
Carbon intensity links GHG emissions from vessels to the amount of cargo carried and the distance a vessel travels.
"The short-term GHG reduction measures, adopted in 2021, form a comprehensive set of amendments to Marpol Annex VI, which provide important building blocks for IMO’s future mid-term greenhouse gas reduction measures,” IMO said.
Based on a ship’s CII, its carbon intensity will be rated A, B, C, D or E. The rating indicates a performance level, from best to worst.
A vessel’s performance level will be recorded in a “Statement of Compliance” in its Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan that will contain further information on the reasons underpinning its rating.
A ship rated D or E for three consecutive years will have to submit a corrective action plan to show how the required index of C or above will be achieved. Administrations, port authorities and other stakeholders as appropriate, are encouraged to provide incentives to ships rated as A or B.
Vessels running on low-carbon fuels achieve higher ratings than those running on fossil fuels, but there are many other operational, fuel and technology changes vessels can make to improve their ratings.
IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) is scheduled to review the effectiveness of the implementation of CII and EEXI requirements by the start of 2026 and develop and adopt further amendments as required.
The IMO’s EEXI and CII measures have come under criticism for a perceived lack of ambition and container shipping goliath MSC, this week, reportedly reiterated a call for amendments to the methodology behind the regulations.
The Maritime Decarbonisation Conference Asia will be held 29 November 2022. Register your interest and access more information here
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