MEPC 66/21 

Annex 12, page 1 

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ANNEX 12

RESOLUTION MEPC.251(66) 

Adopted on 4 April 2014 

AMENDMENTS TO THE ANNEX OF THE PROTOCOL OF 1997 TO AMEND 

THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE PREVENTION OF 

POLLUTION FROM SHIPS, 1973, AS MODIFIED BY THE 

PROTOCOL OF 1978 RELATING THERETO 

Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI and the NOX Technical Code 2008 

(Amendments to regulations 2, 13, 19, 20 and 21 and the Supplement to 

the IAPP Certificate under MARPOL Annex VI and certification of 

dual-fuel engines under the NOX Technical Code 2008) 

THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE, 

RECALLING article 38(a) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization 

concerning the functions of the Marine Environment Protection Committee conferred upon it 

by international conventions for the prevention and control of marine pollution from ships, 

NOTING article 16 of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from 

Ships, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as the "1973 Convention"), article VI of the Protocol of 

1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from 

Ships, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as the "1978 Protocol") and article 4 of the Protocol of 

1997 to amend the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from 

Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (hereinafter referred to as 

the "1997 Protocol"), which together specify the amendment procedure of the 1997 Protocol 

and confer upon the appropriate body of the Organization the function of considering and 

adopting amendments to the 1973 Convention, as modified by the 1978 and 1997 Protocols, 

NOTING that, by the 1997 Protocol, Annex VI entitled Regulations for the Prevention of Air 

Pollution from Ships was added to the 1973 Convention (hereinafter referred to as "Annex VI"),

NOTING FURTHER regulation 13 of MARPOL Annex VI which makes the Technical Code 

on Control of Emission of Nitrogen Oxides from Marine Diesel Engines (NOX Technical 

Code 2008) mandatory under that Annex, 

NOTING ALSO that both the revised Annex VI, adopted by resolution MEPC.176(58) and 

the NOX Technical Code 2008, adopted by resolution MEPC.177(58) entered into force 

on 1 July 2010,

HAVING CONSIDERED draft amendments to the revised Annex VI and the NOX Technical 

Code 2008, 

1. ADOPTS, in accordance with article 16(2)(d) of the 1973 Convention, the 

amendments to Annex VI and the NOX Technical Code 2008, the text of which is set out in 

the annex to the present resolution; 
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2. DETERMINES, in accordance with article 16(2)(f)(iii) of the 1973 Convention, 

that the amendments shall be deemed to have been accepted on 1 March 2015, unless prior 

to that date, not less than one third of the Parties or Parties the combined merchant fleets of 

which constitute not less than 50% of the gross tonnage of the world's merchant fleet, have 

communicated to the Organization their objection to the amendments; 

3. INVITES the Parties to note that, in accordance with article 16(2)(g)(ii) of 

the 1973 Convention, the said amendments shall enter into force on 1 September 2015 upon 

their acceptance in accordance with paragraph 2 above; 

4. REQUESTS the Secretary-General, in conformity with article 16(2)(e) of 

the 1973 Convention, to transmit to all Parties to the 1973 Convention, as modified by 

the 1978 and 1997 Protocols, certified copies of the present resolution and the text of the 

amendments contained in the annex; 

5. REQUESTS FURTHER the Secretary-General to transmit to the Members of the 

Organization which are not Parties to the 1973 Convention, as modified by the 1978 

and 1997 Protocols, copies of the present resolution and its annex. 
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Annex 12, page 3 

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ANNEX

AMENDMENTS TO MARPOL ANNEX VI AND THE NOX TECHNICAL CODE 2008

AMENDMENTS TO MARPOL ANNEX VI 

Chapter 1 – General 

Regulation 2 – Definitions 

1 Paragraph 26 is amended to read as follows: 

"26 Gas carrier in relation to chapter 4 of this Annex means a cargo ship, other 

than an LNG carrier as defined in paragraph 38 of this regulation, constructed or 

adapted and used for the carriage in bulk of any liquefied gas." 

2 New paragraphs 38 to 43 are added after existing paragraph 37 as follows: 

"38 LNG carrier in relation to chapter 4 of this Annex means a cargo ship 

constructed or adapted and used for the carriage in bulk of liquefied natural gas 

(LNG). 

39 Cruise passenger ship in relation to chapter 4 of this Annex means a 

passenger ship not having a cargo deck, designed exclusively for commercial 

transportation of passengers in overnight accommodations on a sea voyage. 

40 Conventional propulsion in relation to chapter 4 of this Annex means a 

method of propulsion where a main reciprocating internal combustion engine(s) is 

the prime mover and coupled to a propulsion shaft either directly or through a gear 

box. 

41 Non-conventional propulsion in relation to chapter 4 of this Annex means a 

method of propulsion, other than conventional propulsion, including diesel-electric 

propulsion, turbine propulsion, and hybrid propulsion systems. 

42 Cargo ship having ice-breaking capability in relation to chapter 4 of this 

Annex means a cargo ship which is designed to break level ice independently with a 

speed of at least 2 knots when the level ice thickness is 1.0 m or more having ice 

bending strength of at least 500 kPa.

43 A ship delivered on or after 1 September 2019 means a ship: 

.1 for which the building contract is placed on or after 

1 September 2015; or 

.2 in the absence of a building contract, the keel of which is laid, or 

which is at a similar stage of construction, on or after 

1 March 2016; or 

.3 the delivery of which is on or after 1 September 2019." 
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Chapter 2 – Survey, certification and means of control 

Regulation 5 – Surveys 

3 In the first sentence of paragraph 4.2, the words "a ship" are replaced with the 

words "a new ship". 

Chapter 3 – Requirements for control of emissions from ships 

Regulation 13 – Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 

4 Paragraph 2.2 is amended to read as follows: 

"2.2 For a major conversion involving the replacement of a marine diesel engine 

with a non-identical marine diesel engine, or the installation of an additional marine 

diesel engine, the standards in this regulation at the time of the replacement or 

addition of the engine shall apply. In the case of replacement engines only, if it is not 

possible for such a replacement engine to meet the standards set forth in paragraph 

5.1.1 of this regulation (Tier III, as applicable), then that replacement engine shall 

meet the standards set forth in paragraph 4 of this regulation (Tier II), taking into 

account guidelines developed by the Organization*. 

______________

* Refer to the 2013 Guidelines as required by regulation 13.2.2 of MARPOL Annex VI in respect 

of non-identical replacement engines not required to meet the Tier III limit, adopted by the 

MEPC by resolution MEPC.230(65)."

5 Paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2 are amended to read as follows: 

"Tier III 

5.1 Subject to regulation 3 of this Annex, in an emission control area 

designated for Tier III NOX control under paragraph 6 of this regulation, the 

operation of a marine diesel engine that is installed on a ship: 

.1 is prohibited except when the emission of nitrogen oxides 

(calculated as the total weighted emission of NOX) from the engine 

is within the following limits, where n = rated engine speed 

(crankshaft revolutions per minute): 

.1 3.4 g/kWh when n is less than 130 rpm; 

.2 9 · n

(–0.2) g/kWh when n is 130 or more but less than 

2,000 rpm; 

.3 2.0 g/kWh when n is 2,000 rpm or more; 

when: 

.2 that ship is constructed on or after 1 January 2016 and is 

operating in the North American Emission Control Area or the 

United States Caribbean Sea Emission Control Area; 
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Annex 12, page 5 

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when: 

.3 that ship is operating in an emission control area designated for 

Tier III NOX control under paragraph 6 of this regulation, other than 

an emission control area described in paragraph 5.1.2 of this 

regulation, and is constructed on or after the date of adoption of 

such an emission control area, or a later date as may be specified 

in the amendment designating the NOX Tier III emission control 

area, whichever is later. 

5.2 The standards set forth in paragraph 5.1.1 of this regulation shall not apply to: 

.1 a marine diesel engine installed on a ship with a length (L), as 

defined in regulation 1.19 of Annex I to the present Convention, of 

less than 24 metres when it has been specifically designed, and is 

used solely, for recreational purposes; or 

.2 a marine diesel engine installed on a ship with a combined 

nameplate diesel engine propulsion power of less than 750 kW if it 

is demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the Administration, that the 

ship cannot comply with the standards set forth in paragraph 5.1.1 

of this regulation because of design or construction limitations of 

the ship; or 

.3 a marine diesel engine installed on a ship constructed prior to 

1 January 2021 of less than 500 gross tonnage, with a length (L), 

as defined in regulation 1.19 of Annex I to the present convention, 

of 24 m or over when it has been specifically designed, and is 

used solely, for recreational purposes." 

6 Paragraph 10 is deleted. 

Chapter 4 – Regulations for energy efficiency of ships 

Regulation 19 – Application 

7 A new subparagraph 2.2 is added as follows: 

".2 ships not propelled by mechanical means, and platforms including FPSOs 

and FSUs and drilling rigs, regardless of their propulsion." 

8 Paragraph 3 is amended to read as follows: 

"3 Regulations 20 and 21 of this Annex shall not apply to ships which have 

non-conventional propulsion, except that regulations 20 and 21 shall apply to cruise 

passenger ships having non-conventional propulsion and LNG carriers having 

conventional or non-conventional propulsion, delivered on or after 1 September 2019, 

as defined in paragraph 43 of regulation 2. Regulations 20 and 21 shall not apply to 

cargo ships having ice-breaking capability." 
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Annex 12, page 6 

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Regulation 20 – Attained Energy Efficiency Design Index (attained EEDI) 

9 Paragraph 1 is replaced with the following: 

"1 The attained EEDI shall be calculated for: 

.1 each new ship; 

.2 each new ship which has undergone a major conversion; and 

.3 each new or existing ship which has undergone a major 

conversion, that is so extensive that the ship is regarded by the 

Administration as a newly-constructed ship, which falls into one or 

more of the categories in regulations 2.25 to 2.35, 2.38 and 2.39 of 

this Annex. The attained EEDI shall be specific to each ship and 

shall indicate the estimated performance of the ship in terms of 

energy efficiency, and be accompanied by the EEDI technical file 

that contains the information necessary for the calculation of the 

attained EEDI and that shows the process of calculation. 

The attained EEDI shall be verified, based on the EEDI technical 

file, either by the Administration or by any organization duly 

authorized by it*. 

______________

 Refer to Code for Recognized Organizations (RO Code), adopted by the MEPC by 

resolution MEPC.237(65), as may be amended." 

Regulation 21 – Required EEDI 

10 Paragraph 1 is replaced with the following: 

"1 For each: 

.1 new ship; 

.2 new ship which has undergone a major conversion; and 

.3 new or existing ship which has undergone a major conversion that 

is so extensive that the ship is regarded by the Administration as 

a newly-constructed ship, which falls into one of the categories in 

regulations 2.25 to 2.31, 2.33 to 2.35, 2.38 and 2.39 and to which 

this chapter is applicable, the attained EEDI shall be as follows: 

 

 Attained EEDI ≤ Required EEDI = (1-X/100) x reference line value 

 

where X is the reduction factor specified in table 1 for the required 

EEDI compared to the EEDI reference line." 

11 New rows are added to table 1 in regulation 2 for ro-ro cargo ships (vehicle carrier), 

LNG carrier, cruise passenger ship having non-conventional propulsion, ro-ro cargo ships 

and ro-ro passenger ships, and marks ** and *** and their explanations are added, 

as follows: 
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Annex 12, page 7 

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" 

Ship Type Size

Phase 0

1 Jan 2013 –

31 Dec 2014

Phase 1

1 Jan 2015 –

31 Dec 2019

Phase 2

1 Jan 2020 –

31 Dec 2024

Phase 3

1 Jan 2025 and 

onwards

LNG carrier*** 10,000 DWT and 

above n/a 10** 20 30

Ro-ro cargo ship 

(vehicle carrier)***

10,000 DWT and 

above n/a 5** 15 30

 Ro-ro cargo 

ship***

2,000 DWT and 

above n/a 5** 20 30

1,000 –

2,000 DWT n/a 0-5*** 0-20* 0-30*

Ro-ro passenger 

ship***

1000 DWT and 

above n/a 5** 20 30

250 –

1,000 DWT n/a 0-5*** 0-20* 0-30*

Cruise passenger 

ship*** having 

non-conventional 

propulsion

85,000 GT

and above n/a 5** 20 30

25,000 –

85,000 GT n/a 0-5*** 0-20* 0-30*

______________

* Reduction factor to be linearly interpolated between the two values dependent upon ship 

size. The lower value of the reduction factor is to be applied to the smaller ship size. 

** Phase 1 commences for those ships on 1 September 2015. 

*** Reduction factor applies to those ships delivered on or after 1 September 2019, as 

defined in paragraph 43 of regulation 2. 

Note: n/a means that no required EEDI applies."

12 New rows are added to table 2 in paragraph 3 for ro-ro cargo ship (vehicle carrier), 

LNG carrier, cruise passenger ship having non-conventional propulsion, ro-ro cargo ships 

and ro-ro passenger ships as follows: 
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Annex 12, page 8 

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" 

Ship type defined in regulation 2 a b c

2.33 Ro-ro cargo ship (vehicle carrier)

(DWT/GT)-0.7・780.36

where DWT/GT<0.3 DWT of the ship 0.471

1812.63

where DWT/GT≥0.3

2.34 Ro-ro cargo ship 1405.15 DWT of the ship 0.498

2.35 Ro-ro passenger ship 752.16 DWT of the ship 0.381

2.38 LNG carrier 2253.7 DWT of the ship 0.474

2.39 Cruise passenger ship having 

 non-conventional propulsion 170.84 GT of the ship 0.214

" 

Appendix I – Form of International Air Pollution Prevention (IAPP) Certificate 

(regulation 8) 

13 The footnote in the Supplement to International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate 

(IAPP Certificate) is amended to read as follows: 

"* Completed only in respect of ships constructed on or after 1 January 2016 that 

are specially designed, and used solely, for recreational purposes and to which, in 

accordance with regulation 13.5.2.1 and regulation 13.5.2.3, the NOx emission limit 

as given by regulation 13.5.1.1 will not apply." 

AMENDMENTS TO THE NOX TECHNICAL CODE 2008 

Abbreviations, subscripts and symbols 

14 Table 4 is replaced by the following: 

"Table 4 – Symbols for fuel composition 

Symbol Definition Unit

* H content of fuel % m/m

* C content of fuel % m/m

S content of fuel % m/m

* N content of fuel % m/m

* O content of fuel % m/m

Molar ratio (H/C) 1

* Subscripts "_G" denotes gas-fuel fraction.

 "_L" denotes liquid-fuel fraction." 
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Annex 12, page 9 

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Chapter 1 – General 

15 Paragraph 1.3.10 is replaced by the following: 

"1.3.10 Marine diesel engine means any reciprocating internal combustion engine 

operating on liquid or dual fuel, to which regulation 13 applies, including 

booster/compound systems, if applied. 

Where an engine is intended to be operated normally in the gas mode, i.e. with the 

gas fuel as the main fuel and with liquid fuel as the pilot or balance fuel, the 

requirements of regulation 13 have to be met only for this operation mode. 

Operation on pure liquid fuel resulting from restricted gas supply in cases of failures 

shall be exempted for the voyage to the next appropriate port for the repair of the 

failure." 

Chapter 5 – Procedures for NOx emission measurements on a test bed 

16 Existing paragraph 5.3.4 is deleted and new paragraphs 5.3.4, 5.3.5 and 5.3.6 are 

added after existing paragraph 5.3.3 as follows: 

"5.3.4 The selection of gas fuel for testing for dual fuel depends on the aim of 

tests. In case where an appropriate standard gas fuel is not available, other gas 

fuels shall be used with the approval of the Administration. A gas fuel sample shall 

be collected during the test of the parent engine. The gas fuel shall be analysed 

to give fuel composition and fuel specification.

5.3.5 Gas fuel temperature shall be measured and recorded together with the 

measurement point position.

5.3.6 Gas mode operation of dual fuel engines using liquid fuel as pilot or 

balance fuel shall be tested using maximum liquid-to-gas fuel ratio, such maximum 

ratio means for the different test cycle modes the maximum liquid-to-gas setting 

certified. The liquid fraction of the fuel shall comply with 5.3.1, 5.3.2 and 5.3.3." 

17 A new sentence is added at the end of existing paragraph 5.12.3.3, as follows: 

"In case of the use of dual fuel, the calculation shall be in accordance with 

paragraphs 5.12.3.1 to 5.12.3.3. However, qmf, wALF, wBET, wDEL, wEPS, ffw values shall 

be calculated in accordance with the following table:

Factors in the formula (6) (7) (8) Formula for factors

qmf = qmf_G + qmf_L

wALF =

mf G mf L

mf G GALF mf L LALF

qq

wqwq

_ _

_ _ _ _





wBET =

mf G mf L

mf G BET G mf L BET L

qq

wqwq

_ _

_ _ _ _





wDEL =

mf G mf L

mf G GDEL mf L LDEL

qq

wqwq

_ _

_ _ _ _





wEPS =

mf G mf L

mf G EPS G mf L EPS L

qq

wqwq

_ _

_ _ _ _





" 
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18 In paragraph 5.12.5.1, table 5 is replaced by the following: 

"Table 5 – Coefficient ugas and fuel-specific parameters for raw exhaust gas 

Gas NOX CO HC CO2 O2

gas kg/m3 2.053 1.250 * 1.9636 1.4277

e

† Coefficient ugas

‡

Liquid fuel** 1.2943 0.001586 0.000966 0.000479 0.001517 0.001103

Rapeseed 

Methyl 

Ester

1.2950 0.001585 0.000965 0.000536 0.001516 0.001102

Methanol 1.2610 0.001628 0.000991 0.001133 0.001557 0.001132

Ethanol 1.2757 0.001609 0.000980 0.000805 0.001539 0.001119

Natural gas 1.2661 0.001621 0.000987 0.000558 0.001551 0.001128

Propane 1.2805 0.001603 0.000976 0.000512 0.001533 0.001115

Butane 1.2832 0.001600 0.000974 0.000505 0.001530 0.001113

_____________________________ 

*

 Depending on fuel. 

** Petroleum derived. 

†

 is the nominal density of the exhaust gas. 

‡

 At = 2, wet air, 273 K, 101.3 kPa. 

 Values for u given in table 5 are based on ideal gas properties. 

In multiple fuel type operation, the ugas value used shall be determined from the 

values applicable to those fuels in the table set out above proportioned in 

accordance with the fuel ratio used." 

Chapter 6 – Procedures for demonstrating compliance with NOx emission limits on 

board 

19 Paragraph 6.3.1.4 is replaced by the following: 

 "6.3.1.4 In practical cases, it is often impossible to measure the fuel oil 

consumption once an engine has been installed on board a ship. To simplify the 

procedure on board, the results of the measurement of the fuel oil consumption from 

an engine's pre-certification test-bed testing may be accepted. In such cases, 

especially concerning residual fuel oil operation (RM-grade fuel oil according to 

ISO 8217:2005) and dual fuel operation, an estimation with a corresponding 

estimated error shall be made. Since the fuel oil flow rate used in the calculation 

( ) must relate to the fuel oil composition determined in respect of the fuel sample 

drawn during the test, the measurement of from the test-bed testing shall be 

corrected for any difference in net calorific values between the test bed and test fuel 

oils and gases. The consequences of such an error on the final emissions shall be 

calculated and reported with the results of the emission measurement." 
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20 In paragraph 6.3.2.1, table 6 is replaced by the following: 

"Table 6 – Engine parameters to be measured and recorded 

Symbol Term Unit

Absolute humidity (mass of engine intake air water content related to mass 

of dry air) g/kg

Engine speed (at the mode during the cycle) min–1

Turbocharger speed (if applicable) (at the mode during the cycle) min–1

Total barometric pressure (in ISO 3046-1:1995: 

= = site ambient total pressure) kPa

Charge air pressure after the charge air cooler (at the mode during the 

cycle)

kPa

Brake power (at the mode during the cycle) kW

Fuel oil (in case of dual fuel engine, it would be fuel oil and gas) (at the 

mode during the cycle)

kg/h

Fuel rack position (of each cylinder, if applicable) (at the mode during 

the cycle)

Intake air temperature at air inlet (in ISO 3046-1:1995: Tx = TTx = site 

ambient thermodynamic air temperature) K

Charge air temperature after the charge air cooler (if applicable) (at the 

mode during the cycle)

K

Charge air cooler, coolant inlet temperature °C

Charge air cooler, coolant outlet temperature °C

Exhaust gas temperature at the sampling point (at the mode during the 

cycle)

°C

_L

Fuel oil temperature before the engine °C

Seawater temperature °C

* Gas fuel temperature before the engine °C

______________

*

 Only for dual-fuel engine."

21 A new paragraph 6.3.4.3 is added after existing paragraph 6.3.4.2 as follows: 

"6.3.4.3 In case of a dual fuel engine, the gas fuel used shall be the gas fuel 

available on board." 

22 Paragraph 6.3.11.2 is replaced by the following: 

 "6.3.11.2 The NOX emission of an engine may vary depending on the ignition 

quality of the fuel oil and the fuel-bound nitrogen. If there is insufficient information 

available on the influence of the ignition quality on the NOX formation during the 

combustion process and the fuel-bound nitrogen conversion rate also depends on 

the engine efficiency, an allowance of 10% may be granted for an on board test run 

carried out on an RM-grade fuel oil (ISO 8217:2005), except that there will be no 

allowance for the pre-certification test on board. The fuel oil and gas fuel used shall 

be analysed for its composition of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur and, to the 

extent given in (ISO 8217:2005) and (ISO 8178-5:2008), any additional components 

necessary for a specification of the fuel oil and gas fuel." 
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23 In paragraph 6.4.11.1, table 9 is replaced by the following: 

"Table 9 – Default fuel oil parameters 

Carbon Hydrogen Nitrogen Oxygen

Distillate fuel oil

(ISO 8217:2005, 

DM grade)

86.2% 13.6% 0.0% 0.0%

Residual fuel oil

(ISO 8217:2005, 

RM grade)

86.1% 10.9% 0.4% 0.0%

Natural gas 75.0% 25.0% 0.0% 0.0%

 For other fuel oils, default value as approved by the Administration." 

Appendix VI – Calculation of exhaust gas mass flow (carbon balance method) 

24 A new paragraph 2.5 is added after existing paragraph 2.4 as follows: 

"2.5 qmf, wALF, wBET, wDEL, wEPS, ffd parameters, in formula (1), in case of gas 

mode operation of dual-fuel engine, shall be calculated as follows:

Factors in formula (1) Formula of factors 

qmf = qmf_G+qmf_L

wALF =

mf G mf L

mf G GALF mf L LALF

qq

wqwq

_ _

_ _ _ _





wBET =

mf G mf L

mf G BET G mf L BET L

qq

wqwq

_ _

_ _ _ _





wDEL =

mf G_ mf L_

mf G_ G_DEL mf L_ L_DEL

qq

wqwq





wEPS =

mf G mf L

mf G EPS G mf L EPS L

qq

wqwq

_ _

_ _ _ _





" 

***