CIMAC Discussed the Impact of the IMO Decision on Tier III to Industry

07 | 2014Press Release

CIMAC discussed the impact of the IMO decision on Tier III to industry

Manufacturers,Ship owners and Exhaust emission experts
met in Frankfurt

July 3rd, 2014, Frankfurt

After the 66th meeting of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) from 31 March to 4 April 2014 in London, a group of CIMAC representatives of the concerned stakeholders have met in Frankfurt to discuss the outcome of this MEPC session and the impact for maritime industry. The adopted amendment to MARPOL Annex VI, Regulation 13, is implementing NOx Tier III standards to the existing NOx emission control areas (NECAs) in North America and the US Caribbean Sea as from 1st January 2016.

Marine suppliers and users represented in CIMAC are committed to their responsibility to continuously reduce the environmental footprint of their businesses. Regarding the implementation of technologies to comply with the Tier III emission limits for NECAs marine suppliers and users concluded that the reached consensus is a basis for further progress, reflecting the needs for manufacturers and ship operators as well. First of all, the current agreement avoids an undesirable legislative patchwork. "In case the IMO Tier III implementation had been delayed by five years as proposed by MEPC 65, this may have led to national regulations for the US", stated Axel Kettmann, CIMAC's Vice President Communication. Instead, it can be expected that the existing NECAs in North America and the US Caribbean Sea will demonstrate IMO’s effectiveness soon after January 2016. "This clarification was overdue. The affected supply industries and port operators now need to immediately release and implement reliable technologies and infrastructure to enable us to comply with these limits in future NECAs" said Herman Heynsfor the CIMAC Working Group 'Users'.

It brings those equipment manufacturers playing a leading role as pioneers of environmentally friendly technologies in the situation to proceed with the development of new and efficient combustion engines.
Nevertheless - commonly stated by all meeting attendees - the past year of uncertainty did not help any party concerned by the IMO regulations. As stated by CIMAC amongst others after MEPC 65, the marine industry strongly depends on adequate, absolutely certain lead times prior to the implementation of new environmental standards, in order to adapt its business strategies and related design and production processes appropriately.

Background

MARPOL Annex VI is the worldwide regulation on pollution from ships. The MEPC adopted in April 2014 amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, regulation13, on nitrogen oxides, concerning the date for the implementation of Tier III standards within emission control areas (ECAs). The amendments provide for the Tier III NOx standards to be applied to a marine diesel engine that is installed on a ship constructed on or after 1 January 2016 and which operates in the North American Emission Control Area or the US Caribbean Sea Emission Control Area that are designated for the control of NOx emissions. In addition, the Tier III requirements would apply to installed marine diesel engines when operated in other emission control areas which might be designated in the future to Tier III NOx control. Tier III would apply to ships constructed on or after the date of adoption by the Marine Environment Protection Committee of such an emission control area, or a later date as may be specified in the amendment designating the NOx Tier III emission control area.

About CIMAC

The International Council on Combustion Engines (CIMAC) is a non-profit association with more than 400 member companies in 28 countries worldwide. CIMAC aims to bring together and improve understanding between manufacturers of diesel engines and gas turbines, users such as ship owners, utilities and rail operators, suppliers, oil companies, classification societies and scientists. Its goal is also to promote the exchange of scientific and technical information through CIMAC events, to facilitate Working Group activities and publication, to support work in the area of standardization and to collaborate with other international associations.

For further information about CIMAC please contact CIMAC Central Secretariat at or visit the CIMAC website at

CIMAC Central Secretariat
c/o VDMA e. V.
Lyoner Str. 18
60528 Frankfurt / Main
Germany

phone:+49 69 6603 1355
e-mail:

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