REQUEST FOR FEEDBACK REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERIM GUIDANCE ON THE USE OF BIOFUELS
Members will be aware that the eightieth session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 80) approved MEPC.1/Circ.905 containing Interim guidance on the use of biofuels under regulations 26, 27 and 28 of MARPOL Annex VI (DCS and CII), as set out in Annex A.
The guidance provides clarification on how certified biofuels, meeting certain sustainability and emission reduction criteria, can be used to improve a ship’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) rating. This guidance will enter into force on 1 October 2023.
It is noted that shipping companies, fuel oil providers, classification societies, flag States and other stakeholders have started using MEPC.1/Circ.905 in preparation for the timely implementation of the guidance. The Secretariat has been informed of some issues with the guidance, including a lack of clarity and possible misinterpretations with the provisions set out therein.
Members are therefore invited to provide feedback received from their member companies regarding the implementation of MEPC.1/Circ.905 which would help the Secretariat in addressing any identified issues through the IMO and other relevant stakeholders such as IACS.
Members are requested to send any comments to Sunil Krishnakumar, Senior Technical Manager,(sunil.krishnakumar@ics-shipping.org) by Friday 13 October 2023.