E.U. MRV Scheme Enters into Force July 1
The European Commission’s Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) rules to collect emissions data officially entered into force on July 1, 2015.
MRV Regulation 2015/757 is a first step towards cutting CO2 emissions from maritime transport and requires operators of ships exceeding 5,000 gross tons to monitor and report their carbon emissions on all voyages to, from and between E.U. ports from 2018.
The MRV system is expected to cut CO2 emissions from the journeys covered by up to two percent, compared with a business-as-usual situation, according to the Commission's impact assessment. The system is also anticipated to reduce net costs to shipowners by up to €1.2 billion per year in 2030.
However, the adoption of the MRV regulation disappointed of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), BIMCO and Intercargo. The organizations believe the E.U. is pre-empting the current IMO negotiations on a global data collection system.
Agreement at IMO will require the support of non-E.U. nations with which the vast majority of the global fleet is registered, including developing countries such as China and India for whom additional CO2 regulations are a politically sensitive issue.
The EU Regulation includes controversial elements, such as the publication of commercially sensitive data on individual ships, an idea which had previously been rejected by the majority of IMO governments during a meeting of the MEPC in October 2014.
The ICS has stated that it fully appreciates that the E.U. regulation, which will not be fully implemented until 2018, contains text to the effect that the required data which shipping will have to provide can be amended by the European Commission to reflect the final outcome of any agreement at IMO. However, it is unclear whether the commission will truly be willing to fully realign the E.U. rules with the agreed international consensus.
As part of the regulation, a valid document of compliance issued by an independent verifier must be carried on board vessels which have performed shipping activities falling under the shipping MRV regulation during the previous year when they are visiting E.U. ports.
Service companies are already moving to offer support services for shipowners.
Emissions verification company Verifavia has made a start with the unveiling of a dedicated service for shipping on July 1. Verifavia is already working with other transport sectors such as aviation.
GMC Maritime Training Center & Services is offering an MRV Executive Briefing course which enables shipping companies to familiarize themselves with the requirements and design an effective MRV system to better prepare for the implementation time.
Parker Procal recently announced that its Procal 2000 emissions analyzer had received DNV-GL certification. It has met the requirements of MEPC 184(59) Chapter 6 on emission testing of CO2 and SO2, as well as the requirements of the revised MARPOL Annex VI and NOx Technical Code 2008. The analyzer's certification helps shipowners to provide robust evidence to demonstrate compliance with ECA and MRV regulations.