The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), an agency of the United Nations, says that the revised IMO Tier III emission regulation will come into action from 1st January 2016.

The 66th meeting of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC66) agreed a revised course to regulate NOx emissions from shipping. To summarise, the IMO Tier III, will mean severe reductions in NOx emissions, approximately a 74% decrease compared with Tier II, and applies to yachts traveling in North American NOx Emission Control Areas (NECA) and the United States Caribbean Sea NECA. When these yachts travel outside of NOx ECAs, IMO Tier II regulations remain.

The IMO Tier III NOx regulation will be applicable to marine diesel engines installed on yachts constructed on or after 1st January 2016, when:

Length over 24 metre •GT above 500 •Intended solely for recreational purposes (check with Flagstate) •Engines over 130 kW & not intended for emergency applications

Tags: The International Maritime Organisation (IMO)