1 APPLICATION
1.1 These Guidelines apply to ships carrying bulk blends of biofuels and MARPOL Annex I
cargoes, subject to MARPOL Annexes I and II, respectively.
2 SCOPE
2.1 These Guidelines have been developed to clarify how biofuels subject to MARPOL Annex
II, when blended with MARPOL Annex I cargoes, can be shipped in bulk.
3 DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of these Guidelines:
3.1 Biofuels are ethyl alcohol, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and
vegetable oils (triglycerides), as identified in chapters 17 and 18 of the IBC
Code or the MEPC.2/Circular. Following circulation of these Guidelines, further
biofuels identified as falling under the scope of the Guidelines will be recorded in annex
11 of the MEPC.2/Circular.
3.2 Biofuel blends are mixtures resulting from the blending of those
biofuels identified in paragraph 3.1 above with a MARPOL Annex I cargo.
4 CARRIAGE OF BIOFUEL BLENDS
The carriage requirements for biofuel blends are assigned based on their volumetric
composition, as follows:
4.1 Biofuel blends containing ≥75% of a MARPOL Annex I cargo
4.1.1 When the biofuel blend contains ≥75% of a MARPOL Annex I cargo, it is subject to
MARPOL Annex I.
4.1.2 When carrying biofuel blends as described in paragraph 4.1.1, Oil Discharge
Monitoring Equipment (ODME – see resolution
MEPC.108(49)) shall be in compliance with regulation 31 of MARPOL Annex I and
approved for the mixture being transported.
4.1.3 When considering the deck fire-fighting system requirements of SOLAS
chapter II-2, regulations 1.6.1 and 1.6.2, when carrying biofuel blends containing more than 5% ethyl
alcohol, then alcohol resistant foams should be used.
4.2 Biofuel blends containing >1% but <75% of a MARPOL Annex I cargo
4.2.1 Biofuel blends containing >1% but <75% of a MARPOL Annex I cargo are subject to
MARPOL Annex II, with the carriage requirements set out in chapter 17 of the IBC Code.
4.2.2 With respect to any new biofuels identified as falling under the scope of these
guidelines, carriage requirements for specific blends of biofuels and MARPOL Annex I
cargoes to be shipped in accordance with MARPOL Annex II will be incorporated into list 1
of the MEPC.2/Circular, as appropriate.
4.3 Biofuels blended with ≤1% of a MARPOL Annex I cargo
Biofuels blended with ≤1% of a MARPOL Annex I cargo are not considered as blends and are
therefore to be shipped in accordance with MARPOL Annex II, under the appropriate product
entry in the IBC
Code.
5 BLENDING OF MARPOL ANNEX I CARGOES AND BIOFUELS ON BOARD
5.1 Blending on board describes the mixing of two products resulting in one single product
(a blended mixture) and reflects only physical mixing as distinct from any chemical
processing. Such mixing operations should only be undertaken whilst the ship is within port
limits.
5.2 The physical blending on board of biofuels and MARPOL Annex I cargoes during a sea
voyage to create new products is prohibited, in accordance with regulation 5.2 of SOLAS chapter
VI.
6 CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
The certification for the biofuel blend to be shipped should be in compliance with MARPOL
Annex II, where appropriate. If the biofuel blend, based on its composition, is shipped in
accordance with MARPOL Annex I, no certification is required.