Maritime transport’s CO2 emissions monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) scheme.
On the 1st of July 2015 Regulation (EU) of European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 on the monitoring, reporting and verification of carbon dioxide emissions from maritime transport, and amending Directive 2009/16/EC (hereinafter: the regulation) went into force. According to article 2 (1) of the regulation MRV scheme covers CO2 emissions from ships which meet or exceed threshold of 5 000 gross tonnage (GT) from the last operating from the last port of call to the port of call under the jurisdiction of EU Member State as well as voyages from the port of call under the jurisdiction of EU Member State to the next port of call, as well as within the port of call under the jurisdiction of EU Member State. According to article 2 (2) scope of the MRV scheme does cover the following types of ships:
- warships;
- auxiliary fleet warships;
- fishing vessels and fish processing vessels;
- ships with other than mechanic propulsion;
- governmental ships used for non-commercial purposes.
Monitoring
According to article 5 of the regulation, as from 1st of January 2018 participants of the scheme are obliged to monitor CO2 emissions following the calculation method of CO2 emissions and with one of the methods of determining fuel consumption. These methods have been thoroughly described in the Annex I to the regulation. Information contained in the Annex to the Commission delegated act (EU) 2016/2071 of 22 September 2016 amending Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the methods for monitoring carbon dioxide emissions and the rules for monitoring other relevant information.
Following formula is used in order to calculate CO2 emissions:
fuel consumption x emission factor
There are four methods available to determine the amount of fuel consumed:
- Method A: fuel delivery document and periodic inventories of fuel tanks;
- Method B: monitoring of the tank with bunker oil on the ship;
- Method C: flow meters for the respective combustion processes.
- Method D: direct measurement of emissions.
It should be taken into account, that, in the case of verifier’s, it is possible to combine methods above, if it will lead to a higher accuracy of measurement.
Furthermore, according to article 9 of the regulation there is also obligation to monitor, according to approved CO2 emissions monitoring plan, other relevant information in accordance to respective voyages, which are mentioned in Annex II to the regulation.
According to article 6 of the regulation, as from 31st of August 2017, companies are obliged to submit to accredited verifiers CO2 emissions monitoring plan, separate for each ship, where respective method(s) will be chosen in order to monitor and report CO2 emissions and other relevant information.
It shall be taken into account, that after 31st of August 2017 company is obliged to submit CO2 emissions monitoring plan to the verifier without further delay, and no later than two months after the first call of each ship in port under jurisdiction of EU Member State.
In article 6 (3) to (5) of the regulation there are thorough information provided regarding the content of emissions monitoring plans. Template of emissions monitoring plan is included in Annex I to the Commission implementing regulation (EU) 2016/1927 of 4 November 2016 on templates for monitoring plans, emissions reports and documents of compliance pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/757 of the European Parliament and of the Council on monitoring, reporting and verification of carbon dioxide emissions from maritime transport.
Reporting
According to the article 11 (1) of the regulation, scheme participants are obliged to submit to the European commission and Polish Registry of Ships CO2 Annual Emissions Reports with a deadline of 30th of April each year. For each ship covered by the MRV scheme CO2 Annual Emissions Report must be prepared.
Template of CO2 Annual Emissions Report is included in Annex II Commission implementing regulation (EU) 2016/1927 of 4 November 2016 on templates for monitoring plans, emissions reports and documents of compliance pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/757 of the European Parliament and of the Council on monitoring, reporting and verification of carbon dioxide emissions from maritime transport.
Verification
According to the article 14 of the regulation CO2 Annual Emissions Reports are subject of verification process conducted by independent and impartial accredited verifier that does not have any connections with the company or ship operator being subject to verification process.
During the verification of CO2 Annual Emissions Report verifier, depending on monitoring methods used, verifier will primarily pay attention to the following issues:
- fuel assignment to cruises;
- data concerning fuel consumption, and related measurements and calculations;
- selection and use of calculation factors;
- calculations leading to determine the total amount of CO2 emissions;
- calculations leading to determine energy efficiency.
In case of detailed questions concerning the MRV scheme, please contact with Polish Register of Shipping at the following phone numbers: +48 346 17 00 and +48 58 751 11 00 or via e-mail at the address: mailbox@prs.pl.