RECALLING Article 38(a) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization
concerning the functions of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (the Committee)
conferred upon it by international conventions for the prevention and control of marine
pollution from ships,
RECALLING ALSO that, at its fifty-eighth session, the Committee adopted, by resolution MEPC.176(58), a revised MARPOL Annex
VI which significantly strengthens the emission limits for sulphur oxides
(SOX),
RECALLING FURTHER that, at its seventieth session, the Committee adopted, resolution
MEPC.280(70), Effective date of implementation of the fuel oil standard in regulation
14.1.3 of MARPOL Annex VI, confirming "1 January 2020" as the effective
date of implementation for ships to comply with global 0.50% m/m sulphur content of fuel
oil requirement,
NOTING ALSO that, at its seventy-third session, the Committee approved circular
MEPC.1/Circ.878 on the Guidance on the development of a ship implementation plan for
the consistent implementation of the 0.50% sulphur limit under MARPOL Annex
VI,
HAVING CONSIDERED, at its seventy-fourth session, draft 2019 Guidelines for consistent
implementation of the 0.50% sulphur limit under MARPOL Annex
VI, prepared by the Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response, at
its sixth session,
1 ADOPTS the 2019 Guidelines for consistent implementation of the 0.50% sulphur limit
under MARPOL Annex VI, as set out in the annex to the present
resolution;
2 REQUESTS Parties to MARPOL Annex
VI and other Member Governments to bring these Guidelines to the attention of
shipowners, ship operators, fuel oil suppliers and any other interested groups;
3 AGREES to keep these Guidelines under review in the light of experience gained with
their application.