As part of ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions in the shipping industry, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has established a ship rating system that will make it mandatory for all ships to calculate their Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) following technical means to improve their energy efficiency and to establish their annual operational carbon intensity indicator (CII) and CII rating.
The decision was taken at a week-long virtual meeting of IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 76) which ended yesterday.
Carbon intensity links the GHG emissions to the amount of cargo carried over distance travelled.
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, also sending out a strong signal to the market and financial sector.
A ship rated D for three consecutive years, or E, is required to submit a corrective action plan to show how the required index (C or above) would be achieved.
The requirements for EEXI and CII certification will come into effect from January 1, 2023. This means that the first annual reporting will be completed in 2023, with the first rating given in 2024.
A review clause requires the IMO to review the effectiveness of the implementation by January 1, 2026 at the latest, and, if necessary, develop and adopt further amendments.