IMSML Web Article 13/2026: MEPC 392(82) - Amendments to the Annex of the Protocol of 1997 to Amend the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1972, as Modified by the Protocol of 1978 Relating Thereto.

IMSML Web Article 13/2026 is on a resolution adopted by the 82nd Session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC82). The focus of this resolution is the Designation of the Canadian Arctic and the Norwegian Sea as Emission Control Areas for Nitrogen Oxides, Sulphur Oxides and Particulate Matter, as appropriate. It entered into force on 1 March 2026 via Malaysian Shipping Notice (MSN) 07/2024 issued on 16 December 2024.

ANNEX VI - REGULATIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OF AIR POLLUTION FROM SHIPS

REGULATION 13 - NITROGEN OXIDES (NO2)

What ships are covered in the ‘Norwegian Sea Emission Control Area’?

A new Regulation 13.5.1.2.3 regulates ‘ships constructed on or after 1 March 2026’, which means:

[1] Ships for which the building contract is placed on or after 1 March 2026;

[2] If there is no building contract, the keel which is laid t a similar stage of construction on or after 1 September 2026;

[3] Delivery of ships which is on or after 1 March 2030.

What ships are covered in the ‘Canadian Arctic Emission Control Area’?

A new Regulation 13.5.1.3.1 regulates ships constructed on or after 1 January 2025 for this area.

What are emission control areas?

The Canadian Arctic Emission Control area is described by the coordinates in Appendix VII of the Annex. By contrast, the Norwegian Sea is defined by Regulation 13.9.4 of Annex II.

REGULATION 14 - SULPHUR OXIDES (SOX) AND PARTICULATE MATTER

What are the requirements within the emission control areas?

This is similar to what is found in Regulation 13, including the designation of the emission control areas.

THE IAPP CERTIFICATE - INTERNATIONAL AIR POLLUTION PREVENTION CERTIFICATE

The certificate provides a record of construction and equipment, in particular:

[1] Date of build;

[2] Date of building contract;

[3] Date on which keel was laid or ship was at a similar stage of construction;

[4] Date of delivery.

The certificate also contains the coordinates for the various emission control areas, stated in accordance with the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) datum.

Thank you for reading IMSML Web Article 13/2026

Stay tuned for the next IMSML Web Article 14/2026: MEPC 400(83) - Amendments to the 2021 Guidelines on the Operational Carbon Intensity Reduction Factor Relative to Reference Lines (CII Reduction Factors Guidelines, G3)(Originally in Resolution MEPC.338/76)

Signing-off for today,

Dr Irwin Ooi Ui Joo, LL.B(Hons.)(Glamorgan); LL.M (Cardiff); Ph.D (Cardiff); CMILT

Professor of Maritime and Transport Law

Faculty of Law

Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah Alam

Selangor, Malaysia

Tuesday,  31 March 2026

Note that I am the corresponding author for the IMSML Website Articles. My official email address is: uijoo310@uitm.edu.my