The UK Monitoring, Reporting & Verification (UK MRV)
Due to BREXIT, U.K. is no longer a part of European Union since 31st January 2020 00:00 CET.
Since the Regulation EU 2015/757 ('EU MRV') applies only to the ships visiting ports under the jurisdiction of an EU member state, it ceased to have effect for ships visiting ports in the United Kingdom since 1st January 2021.
The UK secretary of state, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 8 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018(a), came up with its own MRV system which amends the legislation relating to monitoring and reporting of carbon dioxide emissions from maritime transport, with the first monitoring period starting on 1st January 2022 (no emissions data should be supplied for 2021 for the UK MRV). Of course, data for voyages between the UK and countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) should still be reported under the EU MRV regime.
AIM: Ambitious vision for the future of zero emissions shipping in the United Kingdom by 2050.
For more information, refer to the Clean Maritime Plan.
Scope of UK MRV – This Regulation applies to ships above 5,000 gross tonnage in respect of CO2 emissions released during their voyages from their last port of call to a port of call in the United Kingdom and from a port of call in the United Kingdom to their next port of call, as well as within UK ports of call for these voyages.
The content of the Monitoring Plan, the Emission Report and the Document of Compliance remains the same as in the EU MRV except for the following changes:
- “EU MRV Procedures” to be substituted by “MRV Procedures” and “EU MRV Regulation” by “MRV Regulation” in the Monitoring Plan template.
- Electronic template of Emission Report and Document of Compliance to be published soon by the Secretary of State and available on the gov.uk website.
- The Emission Report will be submitted to the Secretary of State.
For more information, visit The Merchant Shipping (Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of Carbon Dioxide Emissions) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018.
Clarifications about the UK MRV regime:
To avoid duplication, voyages between UK and EEA ports will NOT have to be reported under the UK MRV, and viceversa. Data on these voyages should continue to be submitted to the European Commission under the EU MRV regime.
Under current requirements, the only emissions data we require to be reported under the UK MRV regime are for the following voyages:
- Voyages between two UK ports
- Voyages between a UK and non-EEA port
- Emissions generated at a UK port for the above voyages and when at berth at a UK port on voyages between UK and EEA ports.
Voyages between a port in the UK and a port in one of the UK Overseas Territories or Crown Dependencies – such as the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Jersey – need to be monitored and reported under the UK MRV regime. However, ports in these overseas territories and Crown Dependencies do not count as UK ports under the UK MRV regime. So, voyages between two Crown Dependencies or Overseas Territories – such as between Jersey and Guernsey – should not be included. Likewise, a journey from a port in an overseas territory or Crown dependency to a non-UK port should not be included.
An assessed UK MRV monitoring plan needs to be in place by the end of 2021. If a ship already uses a monitoring plan under the EU MRV regime, the ship operator should confirm with the verifier if this is suitable for the UK MRV regime, or if changes are needed.
To avoid duplication, voyages between UK and EEA ports will NOT have to be reported under the UK MRV, and viceversa. Data on these voyages should continue to be submitted to the European Commission under the EU MRV regime.
Under current requirements, the only emissions data we require to be reported under the UK MRV regime are for the following voyages:
- Voyages between two UK ports
- Voyages between a UK and non-EEA port
- Emissions generated at a UK port for the above voyages and when at berth at a UK port on voyages between UK and EEA ports.
Voyages between a port in the UK and a port in one of the UK Overseas Territories or Crown Dependencies – such as the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Jersey – need to be monitored and reported under the UK MRV regime. However, ports in these overseas territories and Crown Dependencies do not count as UK ports under the UK MRV regime. So, voyages between two Crown Dependencies or Overseas Territories – such as between Jersey and Guernsey – should not be included. Likewise, a journey from a port in an overseas territory or Crown dependency to a non-UK port should not be included.
An assessed UK MRV monitoring plan needs to be in place by the end of 2021. If a ship already uses a monitoring plan under the EU MRV regime, the ship operator should confirm with the verifier if this is suitable for the UK MRV regime, or if changes are needed.
Biofuels:
Appropriate emission factors shall be applied for biofuels, alternative non-fossil fuels and other fuels for which no default values are specified. Based on an agreed approach from the EU Renewable Energy Directive II (Directive (EU) 2018/2001) Annex V, Part C, item 13, CO2 emissions in the use of biofuels and bioliquids is zero. A CO2 emission factor of zero for biofuels and bioliquids certified as sustainable under schemes recognised by the European Commission per the Renewable Energy Directive is advised. For blends, the CO2 emission factor should be based on the weighted average of the emission factors for the respective fuels: e.g. 10% biofuel and 90% MGO will have an emission factor of 0.1 x 0 + 0.9 x 3.206 = 2.885.
Role of Verifavia Shipping
Verifavia Shipping, as the world's leading independent carbon emissions verification body for shipping under the EU MRV and the IMO DCS, and as a UKAS-accredited verifier for UK ETS, is the best placed to provide UK MRV verification to ships visiting UK ports as soon as it is accredited.
Ship operators are expected to start gathering and reporting the MRV data in a similar fashion as done for EU MRV reporting by early 2022, the only differences being the scope of voyages to be reported, and the reporting method.
Marine Infomation Notice 669 (M+F) Amendment 1
The UK Government published a Marine Information Notice (MIN) on 05th May 2023 which clarifies the requirements for operators and verifiers under the UK MRV regime. It is valid until 31st December 2024.
Read the MIN669 (M+F) Amendment 1 published by the UK Government
The UK Government published a Marine Information Notice (MIN) on 05th May 2023 which clarifies the requirements for operators and verifiers under the UK MRV regime. It is valid until 31st December 2024.
Read the MIN669 (M+F) Amendment 1 published by the UK Government
