The Marine Environment Protection Committee, at its eighty-fourth session (27 April to 1 May 2026), approved:-

1) A unified interpretation to regulation 13.2.3 of MARPOL Annex VI, as well as a revised unified interpretation of regulation 13.2.2 on
“Time of replacement of an engine” to clarify the application date for a major conversion following the introduction of a NOx
emission control area which uses the three date criteria;

and

2) A revised unified interpretation to regulation 16.9 of MARPOL Annex VI on “Continuous-feed type shipboard incinerators”
to clarify requirements for incinerator type approval testing.

3) The consolidated text of all existing unified interpretations to MARPOL Annex VI, including those set out in MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.9,
is set out in the annex.

4) This revision reflects the text of regulations 2.1.14, 18.3, 18.3.2 and 18.5.1 of MARPOL Annex VI as amended by resolution MEPC.385(81).

5) Member Governments are invited to apply the annexed unified interpretations to MARPOL Annex VI, as appropriate, and bring them
to the attention of all Parties concerned.

6) This circular revokes MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.9.