Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI on Data collection system for fuel oil consumption of ships, adopted by resolution MEPC.278(70), entered into force on 1 March 2018.
Under the amendments, ships of 5,000 gross tonnage and above are required to collect consumption data for each type of fuel oil they use, as well as other, additional, specified data including proxies for transport work. The aggregated data is reported to the flag State after the end of each calendar year and the flag State, having determined that the data has been reported in accordance with the requirements, issues a Statement of Compliance to the ship. Flag States are required to subsequently transfer this data to an IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Database. IMO will be required to produce an annual report to MEPC, summarizing the data collected.
In addition, on or before 31 December 2018, in the case of a ship of 5,000 gross tonnage and above, the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) shall include a description of the methodology that will be used to collect the data and the processes that will be used to report the data to the ship's flag State.
IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Database has been launched as a new module within the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) platform and that Member States now have access to the Database.
In order for uniform and effective implementation of the regulations, the following guidelines/circular were developed by MEPC:
- 2016 Guidelines for the development of a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) ( resolution MEPC.282(70) );
- 2017 Guidelines for Administration verification of ship fuel oil consumption data (resolution MEPC.292(71));
- 2017 Guidelines for the development and management of the IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Database (resolution MEPC.293(71)); and
- MEPC circular on Submission of data to the IMO data collection system of fuel oil consumption of ships from a State not party to MARPOL Annex VI (MEPC.1/Circ.871).