REGULATION news
New regulations for 2025 Here's a roundup of some of the new regulations set to hit the statute book in 2025. (With thanks to NorthStandard P&I Club.)
STCW – Electronic Certificates
In accordance with the industry support to global digitalisation and as outlined within IMO MSC.107 - see
https://bit.ly/4fUk0OR - MSC adopted amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, regulation I/2. This allows seafarers to hold electronic certificates if they meet certain requirements.
The amendments enter into force on 1 January 2025. Electronic certificates must show a minimum amount of information, circular MSC.1/Circ.1665 informs of these details. See
https://bit.ly/3Zd39RR.
IMSBC Code Amendments
Amendments 07-23 to the IMSBC Code, resolution MSC.539(107), which have been in place on a voluntary basis since 1 January 2024, become mandatory on 1 January 2025. For more information go to
https://bit.ly/4fR9WGq.
MARPOL Annex I – Special Area Updates The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden become special areas effective from 1st January 2025. Ships transiting these areas must comply with regulations 15.3, 15.5 and 34.2 to 34.5 in line with MEPC.381(80) and MEPC.382(80).
A reminder that this requires any discharge of oily waste to be via approved oil filtering equipment meeting regulation 14.7 of Annex 1, (fitted with an alarm and automatic stopping device when oil content exceeds 15 parts per million) as well as the other conditions listed in Annex 1.
Vessels transiting these areas will now also have to comply with Annex V, Regulation 6, for waste management in special areas. A useful overview from the IMO can be found at
https://bit.ly/4fB3Ie4.
A complete list of all special areas can be found at
https://bit.ly/3UXK7N1.
FuelEU Maritime
FuelEU Maritime is a new regulation that will be implemented from 1 January 2025. This is applicable for all commercial ships >5000GT sailing within EU waters, and to and from EU ports. It has been adopted by the EU as part of their “Fit for 55” package to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime sector, by promoting the use of renewables and low-carbon fuels on ships, on a well-to-wake basis as well as future requirements for the use of shore power. The target reduction for 2025 will be 2% compared with 2020 reference levels.
46 | ISSUE 111 | MAR 2025 | THE REPORT
MARPOL Annex VI – Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) Phase 3
In line with the IMO decarbonisation targets, EEDI ensures new vessels are designed to a minimum energy efficiency level. Phase 3 requires a reduction of at least 30% compared with the initial baseline. Whilst some vessel types were required to meet EEDI Phase 3 from April 2022, all remaining vessels greater than 400GT are required to comply with Phase 3 EEDI effective from January 1st 2025.
This applies to all new ships meeting the following criteria: • the building contract is placed on or after 1 January 2025; or
• in absence of a building contract, the keel of which is laid on or after 1 July 2025 the delivery of which is on or after 1 January 2029.
MARPOL Annex VI Emissions Control Area (ECA)
Effective from 1st May 2025, the Mediterranean sea will become part of an emissions control area under the IMO, reference MEPC.261(79). Vessels transiting this area will now require adherence to ECA regulations on sulphur oxides and particulate matter, burning compliant fuels of 0.1% Sulphur or having an approved EGCS in place. Vessels will need to obtain clear bunker delivery notes stating the sulphur content as well as recording this accurately into the Oil Record Book Part I. Vessels will require a written procedure describing how the fuel changeover is to be carried out, taking into consideration the time taken to entirely change over to compliant fuel within the complete fuel system pipelines.
Further Amendments
Further amendments have been made to MARPOL Annex VI as per IMO resolution MEPC.385(81) which will come into force on 1st August 2025.
The EU-MRV will also come into effect from 1st January 2025 for general cargo ships and offshore vessels of 400GT and above.
Ballast Water Management Convention (BWM) – Ballast Water Record Book Effective from 1st February 2025, ship operators will need to complete the new Ballast Water Record Book format in line with MEPC.369(80). In accordance with regulation B-2, the amendments to Annex II have been made to enhance and clarify the required formatting. Updated guidance from the IMO BWM.2/Circ.80 should be used when completing records – see
https://bit.ly/3UUJ9B5.
Additionally, the use of electronic record books for BWM will be allowed as of 1st October 2025 in line with IMO resolution MEPC.383(81). Electronic record books must be approved by the vessels flag administration. Guidance issued by the IMO in MEPC.372(80) for electronic BWM record books should be used – see
https://bit.ly/4fv4PvK.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148
