Amendments to Ship Power Limitation Guidelines issued by IMO

The International Maritime Organization has issued resolution MEPC.390(81) with the amendments to the 2021 Guidelines on the Shaft/Engine Power Limitation System to Comply with the EEXI Requirements and use of a Power Reserve.

The resolution introduces specific amendments to the existing guidelines. These amendments focus on enhancing control and monitoring mechanisms, including the introduction of:

Control units for calculating and limiting power transmission to propellers.
Procedures for indicating and addressing overrides of power limitations, including alarms and manual power reduction by the ship's master or Officer in Charge of the Navigational Watch (OICNW).
Mandates for automatic data recording during deliberate use of power reserve and limitations on the duration of exceedance alarms.
Clarification on the non-permanent nature of the system and the requirement for deliberate action by the ship's master or OICNW to activate the power reserve.
Measures for immediate use of unlimited power in scenarios posing risks to safe navigation.
Distinction between the use of power reserve and precautionary un-limiting events, with corresponding record-keeping requirements.

Additionally, the resolution adds a new section requiring ships to update certain documents related to maneuvering characteristics to reflect changes in power availability and limitations.

Furthermore, the resolution calls upon parties to the MARPOL Annex VI and other member governments to disseminate the introduced amendments to relevant stakeholders, including masters, seafarers, shipowners, and operators.