1 The Marine Environment Protection Committee,
at its fifty-eighth session (6 to 10 October 2008), adopted, by resolution MEPC.176(58), a revised MARPOL
Annex VI and by resolution MEPC.177(58),
a revised Technical Code on Control of Emission of Nitrogen Oxides
from Marine Diesel Engines (NOx Technical Code 2008).
2 The purpose of the NOx Technical
Code 2008 is to provide mandatory procedures for the testing, survey
and certification of marine diesel engines to ensure that they comply
with the standards set forth in regulation 13 of the revised MARPOL
Annex VI. These procedures will enable engine manufacturers, shipowners,
and Administrations to comply with regulation 13 of the revised MARPOL
Annex VI.
3 The requirements of regulation 13 of the revised
MARPOL Annex VI specifically include regulations for Tier II NOx requirements,
which are to become effective in respect of ships constructed on or
after 1 January 2011. Since the revised MARPOL Annex VI is set to
enter into force on 1 July 2010, there is a period of only six months
for Administrations to certify engines and issue Engine International
Air Pollution Prevention (EIAPP) Certificates, in order to comply
with regulation 13.4.
4 With a view to alleviating possible implementation
difficulties posed by the six-month period between the entry-into-force
date of the revised MARPOL Annex VI and the effective date for Tier
II compliance, Administrations are invited to apply the procedures
in the NOx Technical Code 2008 prior to the entry-into-force
date of the revised MARPOL Annex VI by using the interim guidelines
as set out in the annex to this circular.