RMRS revises guidelines on the control of emission of NOx

The Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RMRS) has published revised Guidelines on the Application of Provisions of the Technical Code on Control of Emission of Nitrogen Oxides from Marine Diesel Engines.

This document was published on 15 April 2023.

These Guidelines set the regulations for the survey of ship's diesel engines for their compliance with international nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission standards both at the firms (manufacturers) and on ships in service, have been approved in accordance with the established procedure and came into force on 1 July 2022.

These Guidelines have been developed on the basis of the Guidelines on the Application of Provisions of the Technical Code on Control of Emission, 2020, taking into account the requirements of the above Technical Code, adopted by IMO resolution MEPC.177(58) as amended, and the revised Annex VI to MARPOL 73/78 adopted by IMO resolution MEPC.176(58) as amended.

This document sets procedures, methods, and scope of surveys performed by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping to ensure the compliance of marine diesel engines with the international standards of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions.

The technical supervision of marine diesel engines comprises both the process of their manufacture and service on board ships.

The NOx emission standards are specified by regulation 13 of Annex VI to the International Convention for Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78), and are given in Appendix 1.

On the basis of satisfactory results of the survey, the RMRS shall issue an Engine International Air Pollution Prevention (EIAPP) Certificate with Supplement (forms 2.4.40 and 2.4.41).

The requirements of the Guidelines comply with the Technical Code on Control of Emission of Nitrogen Oxides from Marine Diesel Engines (the NOx Technical Code) adopted on 10 October 2008 by IMO resolution MEPC.177(58), as amended.

This document applies to the following:

.1 marine diesel engines with a power output of more than 130 kW installed on board ships;

.2 marine diesel engines with a power output of more than 130 kW, which were subjected to "substantial modifications" on or after 1 January 2000 except when demonstrated that such an engine is an identical replacement to the engine which it is replacing.

These Guidelines do not apply to the following:

.1 emergency diesel engines;

.2 lifeboat diesel engines;

.3 diesel engines driving the equipment used in emergency situations only;

.4 diesel engines installed on the ships engaged in voyages only within the waters under the jurisdiction of the state, which flag the ship is flying, provided that these diesel engines are subject to alternative control of the NOx emissions specified by the RMRS.