The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) will be meeting in London from March 22 to 26 to discuss key issues that affect the world of shipping.

This year a number of proposals are expected to be passed, among them is the adoption of the US/Canada emissions control area (ECA).

Ships operating within ECAs are required to reduce the sulphur limit of the fuel used to 1.50% at present, and then down to 1.00% in July 2010, and to 0.10% from the start of 2015. They can burn higher sulphur fuel only if they install scrubbers.

In 2009 the US and Canada submitted its proposal to set up an ECA off the coast of both countries. The IMO approved the proposal in July 2009, with formal adoption scheduled at MEPC60, and implementation likely in 2012.

MEPC agreed to disseminate a package of interim and voluntary technical and operational measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping. Among those measures is the IMO energy efficiency design index (EEDI) for new ships and the Ship Energy Efficiency Operational Indicator for new and existing ships, which enables operators to measure the fuel efficiency of a ship.

MEPC also agreed on a work plan for further consideration of proposed market-based instruments to provide incentives for the shipping industry. Various proposals have been put forward by the EU, the US, and Denmark to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which include an emissions trading scheme, a bunker fund and a efficiency index standard and allowing the trade of efficiency credits to meet those standards.

A number of submissions have been forward highlighting possible issues (see MEPC60 library for details of the submissions).

Other key issues facing the industry include ballast water and the recycling of ships.

The Ballast Water Review Group will meet during MEPC60 to review the status of ballast water technologies and advise the Committee on their availability, with regard to meeting the conditions in the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention.

MEPC 60 is also due to consider the report of an intersessional correspondence group established at MEPC 59 with the task of developing the text of the guidelines for safe and environmentally sound ship recycling and the guidelines for the development of the Ship Recycling Plan, as a consequence of the adoption of the Hong Kong Ship Recycling Convention in May 2009.