Important amendments to Chapter 4 of MARPOL Annex VI, concerning energy efficiency of existing ships and carbon intensity of international shipping, were most recently adopted and will enter into force on November 1st, 2022.
Policy Letter: Exercise of enforcement discretion with regard to MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 13.5.1.2.1
The Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has published Policy Letter 21-01: “Exercise of enforcement discretion with regard to MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 13.5.1.2.1” to outline how the U.S. Coast Guard will enforce MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 13.5.1.2.1, the Tier III NOx limits, for certain engines installed on recreational vessels above 24 meters in length and less than 500 gross tonnage (“large recreational vessels”).
Revisions to MARPOL Annex II and IBC Code
MARPOL Annex II and the IBC Code have revisions that will be coming into effect on January 1, 2021.
Amendments to MARPOL 73/78 accepting electronic record books
On October 1, 2020, amendments to MARPOL 73/78 entered into force permitting vessels to electronically record discharges, transfers, and other reportable operations required under Annexes I, II, V and VI in Electronic Record Books (ERB); see IMO Resolution MEPC.314(74). Coast Guard Port State Control Officers (PSCO) and Marine Inspectors will begin examining ERBs in a similar manner as written record books.
Work Instruction update: MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14 compliance, & Global Sulfur Fuel Oil Sulfur Cap enforcement
The Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG-CVC) released work instruction CVC-WI-022 to provide guidance to Coast Guard marine inspectors and port state control officers for ensuring vessel compliance with MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14. Additionally, this work instruction cancels CG-CVC Policy Letter 12-04 Change 1, and includes a Job Aid as an enclosure.