Commission publishes proposed text to align EU MRV with IMO DCS

Today the European Commission published its proposal for amending Regulation (EU) 2015/757 ('EU MRV') in order to take appropriate account of the global data collection system for ship fuel oil consumption data ('IMO DCS').

The objective of this proposed partial alignment is to facilitate the harmonious implementation of the two MRV systems, while preserving the objectives of the EU MRV, i.e. to keep the collection of robust and verified CO2 emissions data at individual ship level to stimulate the up-take of energy efficiency solutions and inform future policy making decisions.

The proposal calls for a streamlining of the two systems (EU MRV and IMO DCS) in terms of definitions, monitoring parameters, monitoring plans and templates to reduce administrative burdens, but not to modify the governance, scope, verification, transparency and CO2 reporting requirements to preserve the EU MRV objectives.

This proposal is expected to preserve the benefits of the EU MRV in terms of environmental, social and economic impacts and at the same time it would reduce administrative burden for companies that have to comply with both schemes.

In short, the text proposes to:

1. amend the definition of Company so that it is consistent with the IMO DCS definition (ISM manager)
2. amend the definition of a 'reporting period' so that it is consistent with the definition in the IMO DCS. A 'reporting period' would mean the period from 1 January until 31 December inclusive. For voyages starting and ending in two different calendar years, the respective data would now be accounted under the calendar year concerned (similar to the IMO DCS).
3. cargo carried would now be reportable on a voluntary basis
4. the deadweight tonnage would now be required to be reported in lieu of the actual cargo carried
5. the template of the monitoring plan would be slightly simplified
6. time at sea would be replaced by hours underway (same as in the IMO DCS)
7. finally and most importantly, where there is a change of Company, the previous and the new companies would now be responsible for EU MRV only for the period corresponding to the activities carried out under their respective responsibilities (same as in the IMO DCS)

The first two amendments would help to ensure that the same legal entities monitor and report according to similarly calculated reporting periods.

The Regulation will apply from 1 January following the year of entry into force, which means from 2020 if it comes into force in 2019.

> Download the proposal
> Download the Annex to the proposal
> Download the Impact assessment
> Downalod the executive summary of the Impact assessment

The proposal is now undergoing public consultation. Feedback can be provided until 1st April 2019.

> Visit the Commission's website
> Provide feedback

For more information, read also the article in World Maritime News.

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