IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) has approved mandatory requirements for ships to record and report their fuel consumption.
The mandatory data collection system is intended to be the first in a three-step process in which analysis of the data collected would provide the basis for an objective, transparent and inclusive policy debate in the MEPC. This would allow a decision to be made on whether any further measures are needed to enhance energy efficiency and address greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping. If so, proposed policy options would then be considered.
Ship Fuel Consumption Database
Under the system, ships of 5000 gross tonnage and above will be required to collect consumption data for each type of fuel they use, as well as other, additional, specified data including proxies for transport work. The aggregated data will be reported to the flag state after the end of each calendar year and the flag state, having determined that the data has been reported in accordance with the requirements, will issue a Statement of Compliance to the ship.
Flag states will be required to subsequently transfer this data to the IMO Ship Fuel Consumption Database. IMO would be required to produce an annual report to the MEPC, summarising the data collected. Data would be anonymised so individual ship data would not be recognized.
The draft mandatory data collection requirements will be put forward for adoption at the 70th MEPC session in October this year and could enter into force in 2018.
