发布机构：劳氏船级社（Lloyd's Register）
栏目：技术文章
来源：https://www.lr.org/en/knowledge/technical-articles/what-to-expect-from-mepc-80/
The eyes of the world are on London this week and the headquarters of the IMO as representatives from around the world descend for MEPC 80. But what will they discuss and what are they likely to agree? Andrew Sillitoe, LR's Head of Regulatory Affairs, talks us through his top three items to watch.
This is probably the most anticipated and widely speculated topic of MEPC 80. We know from the press that there is external pressure being applied to the IMO to agree targets and measures which would see maritime's ambitions align with the 1.5 degrees limit and the wider Paris Agreement. The early reports from the working group last week, ISWG-GHG 15, are positive. Discussions last week focused on the revised GHG strategy, on levels of ambition, candidate GHG reduction measures, follow-up actions and the next periodic review of the strategy.
Discussions around the level of ambition, within the strategy, seemed to draw some consensus around:
There was no consensus, however, on emissions offsetting from other sectors outside the maritime industry within the GHG emission reduction framework, an area where there has been intensive discourse and debate across our sector.
But that doesn't mean that the 2023 GHG strategy will pass easily. The IMO, as a collective of states, has long been a forum of competing ideals, individual country interests and domestic and international agendas being pursued by each country. Can these be put aside? Or will the IMO have to find a compromise? We will see how the politics plays out this week.
Having a revised strategy is important, but equally important is how we get there, the direction of travel and what we must do to achieve the ultimate goal decades away. That is where the mid- and long-term measures come in. Further discussions are expected which look likely to agree a so-called “basket of measures” which will include technical and economic measures. The economic measures to be agreed are uncertain at this time but it looks increasingly likely that the Global Gas Fuel Standard (GFS) will be the technical measure.
The GFS would be the only technical measure proposed and as such is a key candidate measure to underpin the ambitions of the revised GHG strategy. Further assessment is expected at MEPC 80 to review the GFS measure and to agree a suitable economic measure as a combination or a stand-alone element. The proposed economic elements fall into four categories:
With all the discussions and commentary around the GHG strategy and measures to support the achievement of the targets, it’s important to remember the other important measures which MEPC 80 will be discussing. One of these key other items on the agenda is the review of the BWM Convention.
It is expected that the review group will discuss requirements to establish a separate issue addressing existing ships with BWMS that cannot meet the BWM Convention requirements in ports with challenging water quality (CWQ), focusing on:
We know that that not all BWMS are appropriate for all ports with CWQ conditions. It is the responsibility of the asset owner and not the approving authority or Recognised Organisation to ensure that the appropriate BWMS is installed. Information on BWMS operation in areas of CWQ could be preferably included in the Type Approval Certificate, although a review of the certificate would be needed to facilitate this.
Proper definitions of the terminologies associated with TA of BWMS should be considered to avoid different approval standards/practises being applied among approving authorities.
Want to know what MEPC 80 will mean for you and your operations? Register now for our MEPC 80 – Protect the future of your fleet and explore IMO regulations and energy transition strategies webinar.