Current regulatory framework

“As discussed in previous section, through extensive discussions within the IMO, mandatory measures to reduce emissions of GHG from international shipping were adopted by Parties to MARPOL Annex VI at MEPC 62 in July 2011. This provided the first ever mandatory global GHG reduction regime for an international industry sector.

This amendments to MARPOL Annex VI Regulations for the prevention of air pollution from ships, added a new chapter 4 on Regulations on Energy Efficiency for Ships to make mandatory the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), for new ships, and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) for all ships. Other relevant amendments to Annex VI included new definitions and the requirements for survey and certification, including the format for the International Energy Efficiency Certificate. Additionally, voluntary Guidelines for calculation of Energy Efficiency Operational Indicator (EEOI), that was developed and agreed in 2009, can be used for operational monitoring of ships energy efficiency measures.

These technical and operational measures are collectively shown in Figure 6, which also indicates how EEDI, SEEMP and EEOI will work collectively to cover both ship design and operation”. (IMO: Module1. 2016, 58.)


Figure 6: presentation on Technical measures (IMO Module 1. 2016, 58).

“An important series of guidelines to support the uniform implementation of the above mandatory measures are adopted, paving the way for the regulations to be smoothly and uniformly implemented by Administrations and industry. Some examples of these Guidelines include:

  • 2012 Guidelines for the development of a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP);
  • 2013 Guidelines for calculation of reference lines for use with the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI).
  • 2014 Guidelines on the method of calculation of the attained Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new ships, as amended”. (IMO: Module 1. 2016, 58.)