07 Aug 13 - 17:25
MPA Singapore Circular 12/2013
MPA Singapore has issued Shipping Circular No.12/2013 refering to Resolutions adopted by by the IMO 65th Maritime Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC 65) held from 13 to 17 May 2013, at IMO Headquarters in London regarding :- Ballast Water Management Convention
- Air pollution and Energy Efficiency
- Garbage Management
- Biofouling
Ballast Water Management Convention
a. BWM.2/Circ.42 - Guidance on ballast water sampling and analysis for trial use in accordance with the BWM Convention and Guidelines (G2)
The guidance provides general recommendations on methodologies and approaches to sampling and analysis for testing compliance with the D-1 and D-2 standards under the BWM Convention. MEPC 65 also agreed on the recommendations related to the trial period for reviewing, improving and standardising the guidance and on the principle that port states refrain from applying criminal sanctions on the basis of sampling only during the trial period.
b. BWM.2/Circ.43 - Amendments to the Guidance for Administrations on the type approval process for ballast water management systems in accordance with Guidelines (G8)
The circular supersedes BWM.2/Circ.28 and provides guidance to Administrations on the procedure for evaluating applications for type approval of BWMS. Manufacturers submitting systems for approval are required to refer to the guidance.
c. BWM.2/Circ.44 - Options for ballast water management for Offshore Support Vessels in accordance with the BWM Convention
The circular provides options available for offshore support vessels to comply with the requirements of the BWM Convention arising from concerns that the activities of these vessels differ from those of deep sea trading vessels.
d. BWM.2/Circ.45 - Clarification of "major conversion" as defined in regulation A-1.5 of the BWM Convention
The circular provides clarifications that new installation of BWMS should not be treated as a "major conversion" of a ship, and also on the conversions that constitute as a change of ship type.
e. BWM.2/Circ.46 - Application of the BWM Convention to Mobile Offshore Units
The circular proposes unified interpretations for the application of the BWM Convention to mobile offshore units.
Air Pollution and Energy Efficiency
a. MEPC.1/Circ.815 - 2013 Guidance on treatment of innovative energy efficiency technologies for calculation and verification of the attained EEDI
The guidance provides the methodology of calculation, survey and certification of innovative energy efficiency technologies for the attainedEEDI under MARPOL Annex VI to interested parties related to EEDI of ships.
b. MEPC.1/Circ.816 - 2013 Guidelines on survey and certification of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI)
The circular is a consolidated text of the guidelines on survey and certification of the EEDI and incorporates the amendments adopted under resolution MEPC.234(65).
Garbage Management
a. MEPC.1/Circ.809 - Revised Guidance on the management of spoilt cargoes
The circular provides guidance on managing spoilt cargoes during voyage and takes into account the London Protocol and revised MARPOL Annex V.
b. MEPC.1/Circ.810 - Implementation of MARPOL Annex V (Adequate port reception facilities for cargoes declared as harmful to the marine environment under MARPOL Annex V)
The circular permits the discharge of cargo hold washwater from holds previously containing solid bulk cargo classified as HME under certain conditions when no adequate port reception facilities are available at the discharge port. The relaxation is only valid until 31 December 2015.
Biofouling
a.MEPC.1/Circ.811 - Guidance for evaluating the 2011 guidelines for control and management of ships' biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species
The guidance is intended to assist interested parties in evaluating the guidelines for control and management of ships' biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species.
MPA Singapore Circular includes all the above Resolutions with active links.Click here for more
