The twelve intercessional meeting of the Working Group on the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 12) was held remotely from 16 to 20 May 2022, ahead of the MEPC 78 which is held from 6 to 10 June.

 ISWG-GHG 12 was instructed to:

– Consider any issue arising from the final report of the Correspondence Group on Carbon Intensity Reduction ;

– Consideration of concrete proposals for mid- and long-term measures and associated impact assessments in the context of Phase I of the work plan as well as the proposal to establish an International Maritime Research Board (IMRB/F) ;

– Have further consideration of how to address the increasing workload on reduction of GHG emissions from ships and proposals for possible alternative working arrangements.

Considering these terms of reference, the ISWG-GHG 12 agreed to propose to MEPC 78 to consider, with a view to adoption:

– The draft MEPC resolution on 2022 Guidelines for the development of a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP);

– The draft MEPC resolution on Guidelines for the verification and company audits by the Administration of Part III of the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP);

– The draft MEPC resolution on 2022 Guidelines for Administration verification of ship fuel oil consumption data and operational carbon intensity;

– The draft MEPC resolution on 2022 Guidelines for the development and management of the IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Database;

– The draft MEPC Circular on the Procedure on submission of data to the IMO data collection system of fuel oil consumption of ships from a State not Party to MARPOL Annex VI;

– The draft MEPC resolution on the 2022 Guidelines on the method of calculation of the attained Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI);

– The draft MEPC resolution on the 2022 Guidelines on survey and certification of the attained Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI);

– The draft MEPC Circular on Guidance on methods, procedures and verification of in-service performance measurements;

– The draft MEPC resolution on the, 2022 Interim Guidelines on Correction Factors and Voyage Adjustments for CII Calculations (CII Guidelines, G5;

– The draft MEPC resolution on the 2022 Guidelines on Operational Carbon Intensity Indicators and the Calculation Methods (CII Guidelines, G1);

– The draft MEPC resolution on the 2022 Guidelines on the Reference Lines for use with Operation Carbon Intensity Indicators (CII Reference Lines Guidelines, G2);

– The draft MEPC resolution on the 2022 Guidelines on the Operational Carbon Intensity Rating of Ships (CII Rating Guidelines, G4);

ISWG-GHG 12 also recommended that MEPC 78 should invite all relevant stakeholders to initiate a review of SEEMPs without delay after the adoption of the guidelines to ensure the updates of SEEMPs would be done before 31 December 2022.

 It is likely that MEPC 78 will broadly endorse the proposals issued by ISWG-GHG 12.

 MEPC 78 is the last milestone before the entry into force of new MARPOL Annex VI regulations on EEXI and CII.