The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued MEPC.1/Circ.917, providing interim guidance on the carriage of biofuel blends containing up to 30% biofuel by volume on conventional bunker ships certified under MARPOL Annex I. Relevant to this is Marine Advisory 14/2025 issued by the Liberian Registry on May 30 2025.
Key Provisions:
Carriage Authorization: Biofuel blends containing no more than 30% biofuel by volume may be transported on conventional bunker vessels without necessitating modifications to the ship’s IOPP Certificate.
Tank Residues and Washings: All tank residues and washings must be discharged to shore reception facilities, unless the ship is equipped with an Oil Discharge Monitoring Equipment (ODME) approved for the specific blend.
Regulatory Alignment: This interim guidance is consistent with MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.9, which outlines the definition of biofuels and their compliance with MARPOL Annex VI, including NOx requirements.
Recognized Biofuel Types: The following biofuel types are included under this guidance:
FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters)
FAEE (Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters)
HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil)
SVO (Straight Vegetable Oil)
Glycerol
Other biomass-to-liquid (BtL) fuels
Action Required:
Owners and operators of bunker vessels intending to carry biofuel blends should ensure compliance with the above requirements and consult MEPC.1/Circ.917 for complete details.
Contact:
For further clarification or guidance, please contact us at technical@phrs.gr or for vessels under LISCR you may contact directly the LISCR Regulations and Standards Department at: RegsandStandards@liscr.com
