IMO revises Regulations on carbon intensity

The Working Group is tasked with drafting amendments to Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention regulating ship operational carbon intensity (CII - Carbon Intensity Indicator).

Adopted in 2021 as part of IMO's comprehensive climate action, these regulations mandate that ships with a gross tonnage of 5,000 and above must enhance their operational carbon intensity annually starting from 2023 to meet the limits set out by MARPOL.

Maritime Administrations assign ships an annual operational carbon intensity rating of A, B, C, D or E depending on the performance achieved. Ships with low ratings must take additional corrective measures to improve CII values.

RS serves as recognized organization for multiple Flag States, implementing IMO environmental regulations, including reviewing documentation, conducting surveys, verifying annual CII reporting and operational carbon intensity ratings, as well as issuing statutory documents in accordance with MARPOL Annex VI.

To assist shipowners in CII calculations and determine relevant ratings, RS introduced a Carbon Intensity Calculator available in the Members area on the RS website.

Key agenda items for the upcoming Intersessional Working Group:

• determining annual reduction factors for CII requirements from 2027 through 2030;
• evaluating proposed CII calculation adjustments to reflect operational realities. Currently, such adjustments include ice class, ice navigation, various design or operational features affecting the emission volumes;
• improving the mechanism and procedures for reporting fuel consumption data to IMO. The data is used in CII calculations and should be submitted to IMO for summarizing, conducting scientific and statistical studies and identifying trends in international maritime carbon intensity.

The meeting outcomes will form the basis for amendments to Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention on operational carbon intensity to be adopted this year with an anticipated entry into force in early 2027.

Additional information:

Founded in 1913, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) is a world-renowned classification society that operates within all spheres of the maritime industry with the goal of improving the operational and environmental safety of marine transportation. RS reviews technical documentation, surveys ships and offshore facilities under construction and in service, certifies vessels and companies for compliance with international conventions, recognizes and certifies industrial products and manufacturers, certifies quality management systems for compliance with international and national standards.

Today, RS is actively implementing the concept "More than class" by expanding its scope of services in the field of engineering and consulting, the development of technical documentation for vessels in service, marine warranty surveys and certification. In addition, RS surveys all container types, including tank containers and offshore containers, confirms compliance of packaging for dangerous goods, as well as renders services on the declaration and certification of dangerous goods and bulk cargoes.