A presentation at the monthly meet of the Association of Master Mariners, Kolkata, on 8th Jan 2020

1. IMO
Developments and Action Dates As Of
8th Jan 2010
Capt Ashok Menon
Association of Master mariners, Kolkata

2. SULPHUR CAP
• Only larger ships of 400 gross tonnage and above engaged
in voyages to ports or offshore terminals under the
jurisdiction of other Parties have to have an International
Air Pollution Prevention Certificate, issued by the ship’s flag
State. But all sizes of ships will need to use fuel oil that
meets the 0.50% limit from 1 January 2020.

3. •The carriage ban refers to the MARPOL amendment
adopted in 2018 to prohibit the carriage of non-compliant
fuel oil for combustion purposes for propulsion or
operation on board a ship - unless the ship has an exhaust
gas cleaning system ("scrubber") fitted. EIF 1 March 2020.

4. •The 2019 Guidelines on implementation of 0.50% limit
•These comprehensive guidelines include a template for a
"Fuel Oil Non-Availability Report (FONAR)"
•1 A fuel oil non-availability report is not an exemption. It is
the responsibility of the Party of the destination port,
through its competent authority, to scrutinize the
information provided and take action, as appropriate."

5. •Avoiding single-use plastic
•Resolution MEPC.295(71) 2017 Guidelines for the
implementation of MARPOL ANNEX V
•Guidelines adopted by IMO recommend that "all
shipowners and operators should minimize taking on board
material that could become garbage". Specifically, this
includes package plastic used by suppliers.
In 2050 the weight of plastics in the oceans will be greater
than the weight of fish

6. •IMO and the Sustainable Development Goals
•In 2015, 193 countries adopted the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
• No Poverty / Zero Hunger / Good health and well being
/ Quality Education / Gender Equality /Clean water and
sanitation

7. •Affordable and clean energy / Decent work and
Economic growth / Industry, Innovation and infrastructure
/ Reduced Inequalities
•Sustainable cities and communities / Responsible
consumption and production / Climate Action / Life
below water / Life on land / Peace, justice and strong
institutions / Partnerships for the goals

8. •List of amendments expected to enter into force
•1 September 2019 MARPOL Annex VI amendments
Amendment to Regulation 13 – Nitrogen oxides (NOX) to
make clearer emission control areas for NOx, by replacing
the words "an emission control area designated under
paragraph 6 of this regulation" with the words "a NOX Tier
III emission control area";

9. •13 October 2019 Amendments to the BWM Convention
•The amendments relate to the implementation of the
treaty, including the schedule for ships to comply with the
requirement to meet the so-called D-2 standard
• Other amendments (to sections A and D) make mandatory
the Code for approval of ballast water management
systems, which was also be adopted at the session..

10. •January 2020 - Amendments to SOLAS and Codes
•Amendments adopted by MSC 96:
•Amendments to SOLAS regulations III/3 and III/20 to make
mandatory the Requirements for maintenance, thorough
examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of
lifeboats and rescue boats, launching appliances and
release gear.

11. •Amendments to FSS Code regarding prevention of internal
corrosion and clogging of sprinklers and a new chapter 17
of the FSS Code, containing mandatory requirements for
helicopter facility foam firefighting appliances.
•Amendment 38-16 to the IMDG Code, to reflect latest
changes to the United Nations Recommendations on the
Transport of Dangerous Goods.

12. • Amendments adopted by MSC 97:
• Amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/3-12 on protection against noise,
regulations II-2/1 and II-2/10 on firefighting and new regulation XI-1/2-1 on
harmonization of survey periods of cargo ships not subject to the ESP Code.
• Amendments to the 2008 International code on Intact Stability (IS Code),
relating to ships engaged in anchor handling operations and to ships
engaged in lifting and towing operations, including escort towing. The
amendments are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2020.
• Amendments to the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code),
clarifying the distribution of crew in public spaces for the calculation of
stairways width. The amendments are expected to enter into force on 1
January 2020.
• Amendments to the International Code for the Construction and Equipment
of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code), aligning the
wheelhouse window fire-rating requirements in the IGC Code with those in

13. •1 March 2020 - MARPOL Annex VI amendments - carriage
ban on non-compliant fuel oil
The amendment will prohibit the carriage of non-compliant
fuel oil for combustion purposes for propulsion or
operation on board a ship - unless the ship has an exhaust
gas cleaning system ("scrubber") fitted, if accepted by the
flag State as an alternative means to meet the sulphur limit

14. •1 October 2020 MARPOL amendments – use of electronic
record books
•Adopted by MEPC 73: MARPOL Amendments to allow for
electronic record books to be used were adopted, for
Annex I - Oil Record Book Part I – Machinery space
operations and Oil Record Book Part II – Cargo/ballast
operations;

15. Annex II - Cargo Record Book; and Annex V - Garbage Record
Book; and Annex VI for records relating to Regulation 12 –
Ozone-depleting substances, Regulation 13 – Nitrogen
oxides (NOX) and Regulation 14 – Sulphur oxides (SOX) and
particulate matter. Guidelines for the use of electronic
record books under MARPOL have been adopted.

16. • SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAN
• India has decided to ban single-use plastics on ships sailing
in its waters, effective immediately.
• According to the country’s Directorate General of Shipping,
plastics including cutlery, plates and cups, are prohibited on
board Indian ships and foreign ships when in India.
• The current ban includes other plastics, such as bottles,
bags and dispensing containers for cleaning fluids. The
country also announced that, with effect from January 1,
2020, additional single-use plastics would be added.

17. • SALE OF SCI
• India’s government has approved the sale of a majority
stake in the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI).
• Specifically, the government would divest its shareholding
of 63.75 percent in the Mumbai-based shipping company.
• The government will also transfer management control to a
strategic buyer, according to the country’s Ministry of
Finance.

18. • India is working to improve its global reputation as one of
the world’s top ship dismantling nations by upgrading its
safety and environmental track records.
• Specifically, the President of India approved the country’s
Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019 making it an Act. The move
comes on the back of the country’s accession to the Hong
Kong Convention 2009 last month.

19. • The number of active Indian seafarers, employed aboard
Indian or foreign flagged ships, has grown by about 45
percent in the last three years.
• According to the country’s Ministry of Shipping, in 2016
there were a total of 143,940 Indian seafarers working on
vessels. The number was up at 208,799 in 2018.
•

20. • The government of India has issued a restriction banning all
Indian seafarers from working on vessels in the Gulf of
Guinea.
• In a circular sent to ship owners and shipping companies,
India’s Directorate General of Shipping in Mumbai informed
that the move comes on the back of an increasing rate of
piracy and hijacking of crew for ransom in Nigerian waters.
•