With the approaching of the 2030 and 2050 deadlines for the drastic cut of ship emissions, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) approved short-term measures that are meant to be set into force by November 1st, 2022. These measures combine technical and operational approaches to improve the energy efficiency of ships, also providing important building blocks for GHG reduction over time.
During the recently held MEPC 76, IMO has adopted measures that will require all ships, above 400 GT falling under MARPOL Annex VI, to calculate and verify against required limits their Energy Efficiency Design Index for existing ships (EEXI) and to establish their annual operational Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and CII rating.
The calculation of the EEXI is mainly based on the 2018 calculation guideline of the EEDI, with some adjustments for existing vessels according to the different ship types, and it basically describes the CO2 emissions per ship transport work, while carbon intensity links the CO2 emissions to the ship capacity (DWT or GT, depending on ship type) over distance travelled.
Following their annual performance in terms of CII, ships will get a rating of their energy efficiency (A, B, C, D, E - where A is the best). Administrations, port authorities and other stakeholders as appropriate, are encouraged to provide incentives to ships rated as A or B, while a ship rated D for 3 consecutive years, or E, is required to submit a corrective action plan, to show how the required rating (C or above) would be achieved.
To better support clients throughout this process, RINA has issued a new Guide for the Evaluation of EEXI.
The scope of this Guide – effective from July 1st, 2021 – is to provide both RINA team and shipowners with a common approach for the evaluation of the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) introduced in new MARPOL Annex VI regulations – adopted in June 2021 through Resolution MEPC.328(76) – requiring the following new and existing ships of 400 GT and above:
to have a calculated Attained EEXI equal or less than a Required EEXI at the first annual, intermediate or renewal survey of the IAPP Certificate or the initial survey of the IEEC Certificate, whichever is the first, on or after 1 January 2023.
