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Marine Propulsion Annual Marine Diesel Engines: Entering A New Certification Era Marine diesel engines have long been subject to classification society rules. However, from the start of next year, a whole new - and quite separate control regime will begin to take effect with major implications for both new and existing engines. Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78, dealing with a wide range of air pollution con- trol matters (including ozone depleting substances, acid deposition materials, volatile organic compounds, incinera- tion and oil fuel quality), is still some way from reaching the required level of ratification to enter into force. Neverthe- less, the time is fast approaching when some of the provisions of that Annex will start to take effect. This is particu- larly true in terms of the oxides of nitro- gen (NOx) controls, Regulation 13. As Figure 1 Ship status Entry into force date Entry into force date + either 3 years (max.) or first scheduled drydocking REGUUlTIONS 5&6 SURVEYS & CERTIFICATION Existing ship prior to entry into force date Statement of Compliance (not mandatory) with Anne* VI International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate required New construction post entry into force date LA (ntemation Air Pollution Prevention Certificate r*f required prior to ship's entry into service REGULATION 13 OXIDES OF NITROGEN Existing ships at 31.12.99 Engines subject to MAJOR CONVERSION should have ™ a Statement of Compliance with NO* Technical Code —A Affected engines to have completed Initial Survey, other surveys as due New construction. 1.1.2000 to entry into force date Engines should have a Statement of ' Compliance with NO* Technical Code BA All engines to have completed Initial Survey, other surveys as due New construction post entry into force date L_X Engines to have EIAPP certificates and to have completed Initial r^f Survey prior to ship's entry into service, other surveys as due Note: NOx control! only ipplictblc to engines over 130 kW and not used soleh for emergency purpose! shown in Figure 1, engines installed on ships constructed on or after January 1, 2000 will, following the entry into force of the Annex, need to meet the relevant certification requirements contained in the Annex. So too will those engines which, on or after January 1, 2000, have been subjected to a 'major conversion', as defined within the regulations, irre- spective of the date of construction of the ship on which they are installed. While the date of January 1, 2000 is written into Regulation 13, compliance between then and the entry into force date, which may be a few years off, should be seen as voluntary early com- pliance. However, this should be seen as a very qualified voluntary. Following the entry into force of the Annex, a year after achieving the required level of rat- ification, an International Air Pollution Prevention (IAPP) Certificate, of which the NOx controls are but one aspect, will become essential for a ship to trade on an international basis. As shown in Fig- ure 1 for existing ships at that time there will be a maximum period of up to three years in which to obtain this certificate. Where those engines to which Regula- tion 13 applies are not already voluntar- ily compliant, shipowners will face a monumental, if not near impossible in some cases, task at that time in obtaining that essential certification. The first stage of achieving this com- pliance with the NOx control require- ments is through either pre-certification or testing onboard, after installation in a few instances or more usually on com- pletion of any major conversion, in accordance with the procedures as set out in the IMO NOx Technical Code. This Code is a mandatory document that underpins the Regulation 13 require- ments. Consequently, despite the volun- tary nature of this compliance over the next few years, the pressure will be on engine builders and those responsible for undertaking major engine conver- sions to provide the necessary approved documentation at the time of installation or following conversion. By so doing this will reduce the NOx aspects of the IAPP Initial Survey to a relatively sim- (Continued on page 91)
