RESOLUTION MEPC.280(70)

(Adopted on 28 October 2016)

EFFECTIVE DATE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FUEL OIL STANDARD IN REGULATION 14.1.3 OF MARPOL ANNEX VI

THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE,

RECALLING Article 38(a) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Marine Environment Protection Committee conferred upon it by international conventions for the prevention and control of marine pollution from ships,

RECALLING ALSO that the revised MARPOL Annex VI entered into force on 1 July 2010,

RECALLING FURTHER that regulation 14.1.3 of MARPOL Annex VI stipulates that the sulphur content of any fuel oil used on board ships shall not exceed 0.50% m/m on or after 1 January 2020,

RECALLING that regulations 14.8 to 14.10 of MARPOL Annex VI require that a review shall be completed by 2018 to determine the availability of fuel oil to comply with the fuel oil standard set forth in regulation 14.1.3 of MARPOL Annex VI,

NOTING that an assessment of fuel oil availability has been completed to inform the decision to be taken by the Parties to MARPOL Annex VI in accordance with regulation 14.10 of MARPOL Annex VI,

HAVING CONSIDERED, at its seventieth session, based on the aforementioned assessment of fuel oil availability, whether it is possible for ships to comply with the implementation date in regulation 14.1.3 of MARPOL Annex VI,

1          DECIDES that the fuel oil standard in regulation 14.1.3 of MARPOL Annex VI shall become effective on 1 January 2020;

2          REQUESTS the Parties to MARPOL Annex VI and other Member Governments to bring this decision to the attention of shipowners, ship operators, refinery industries and any other interested groups;

3          REQUESTS the Secretary-General to notify all Parties to MARPOL Annex VI of the aforementioned decision;

4          REQUESTS ALSO the Secretary-General to notify all Members of the Organization which are not Parties to MARPOL Annex VI of the aforementioned decision.