MEPC 83 outcomes: advancing maritime environmental law

Beyond its climate change mitigation efforts, the Committee adopted amendments to the NOx Technical Code. New requirements for certifying diesel engines with multiple operational profiles as well as engines retrofitted to enhance environmental performance will enter into force on March 1, 2027.

The Committee also approved several new and updated recommendatory guidelines addressing key environmental protection issues:

• Guidelines on in-water cleaning of ships’ biofouling;
• Interim guidance guidance on the carriage of blends of biofuels and MARPOL Annex I cargoes by conventional bunker ships;
• 2025 Guidelines on Selective Catalytic Reduction systems;
• Amendments to the 2023 Guidelines for the development of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials.

Work continued on improving the 2004 International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments via finalizing a list of Convention requirements and IMO Guidelines slated for revision. The direct development of amendments will commence during the intersessional period, with initial drafts expected to be reviewed at the next regular session of the MEPC in spring 2026.

The Committee approved amendments to the MARPOL Convention that establish new Emission Control Areas (ECAs) for Sulphur Oxides, Nitrogen Oxides and particulate matter in the North-East Atlantic Ocean. The ECAs will encompass the exclusive economic zones of Denmark (Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Ireland, Iceland, Great Britain, France, Spain and Portugal.

In addition, Member States agreed to designate two national reserves along the Peruvian coast as Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas, subject to the further development of measures to protect the regions’ marine environment.

Following the session outcomes, RS reaffirms its commitment to actively shape sustainable shipping regulations, bridging national maritime priorities with evolving global standards.

Detailed results of the MEPC 83 can be found under the section "International Activity" - "Results of sessions of the IMO bodies" on the official RS website.

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.