IMO: Updated unified interpretations to MARPOL Annex VI

The International Maritime Organization, on December 16th, 2022, published a circular annexing the unified interpretations to MARPOL Annex VI.

This circular revokes MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.6.

The Marine Environment Protection Committee, at its seventy-ninth session (12 to 16 December 2022), approved unified interpretations to MARPOL Annex VI, which included:

extending the scope of the unified interpretation of regulation 18.3 of MARPOL Annex VI concerning the use of biofuels to include synthetic fuels;
clarifying the reporting of boil-off gas (BOG) consumed on board ships in the IMO Data Collection System (IMO DCS);
clarifying EEDI reporting requirements in regulation 22.3 of MARPOL Annex VI; and
issues related to the development and verification of the SEEMP and the issuance of the Statement of Compliance for CII reporting.

The updated consolidated text of all existing unified interpretations to MARPOL Annex VI, including those set out in circular MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.6, are set out in the annex.

The regulation numbers in the annexed unified interpretations refer to the 2021 Revised MARPOL Annex VI, as adopted by resolution MEPC.328(76), which entered into force on 1 November 2022.

Member Governments are invited to apply the annexed unified interpretations to MARPOL Annex VI, as appropriate, and bring them to the attention of all Parties concerned.

Member Governments are also invited to note MEPC.1/Circ.897 setting out cross-reference tables between the 2021 Revised MARPOL Annex VI and the previous MARPOL Annex VI.