Topics: NOx Technical Review; EEDI (Engine Efficiency Design Index); SEEMP (Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan); MBM (Market Based Measures); MARPOL amendments; NOx Technical Code; Means of making Polar Code mandatory; Recycling of ships.

Report from the 63rd Meeting of the IMO Marine Environmental Protection Committee held from 27th February to 2nd March 2012.

Topics: NOx Technical Code; Requirements Related to Diesel Engines Fitted with SCR Systems; United States Caribbean ECA (Emission Control Area); EEDI (Engine Efficiency Design Index); SEEMP (Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan); MBM (Market Based Measures); Revised Annex V – Garbage

Report of the 62nd Session of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee held from 11th to 15th July 2011.

Minutes of the Superyacht UK Technical Group Meeting held on 29th February 2012 at Lloyds Register. Topics covered include MARPOL Annex VI, SEEMP, EEDI, Maritime Labour Convention, Large Yacht ISO Standards and IMO Updates.

It will be an offence to sell gas oil containing more than 10 mg (20 mg at point of sale) of sulphur per kilogram of fuel to inland waterway craft and recreational craft when not at sea. Sea going craft, heating or stationary equipment are excluded.

The BMEA Code of Practice for Electrical and Electronic Installations in Boats provides industry-approved guidance on such installations and interpretation of RCD harmonised standards BS EN ISO 10133 (dc) and BS EN ISO 13297 (ac).

The Code is provided in pdf format and is an indispensable tool for boatbuilders, boatyards, Boat Safety Examiners and private individuals fitting electrics in small craft. It also provides a recognised means of demonstrating conformity with the Recreational Craft Directive.

This product provides the RCD harmonised standards BS EN ISO 10133 (dc) and BS EN ISO 13297 (ac) in addition to the BMEA Code of Practice for Electrical and Electronic Installations in Boats. It provides industry-approved guidance on such installations and interpretation of RCD harmonised standards.

The Code and the two ISO Standards are provided in pdf format and are an indispensable tool for boatbuilders, boatyards, Boat Safety Examiners and private individuals fitting electrics in small craft.

As previously reported the MARPOL Annex VI Tier III NOx emission limits are scheduled to come into force in 2016 in Emission Control Areas. Current technology indicates that these limits will require exhaust after treatment and the advice is that the most likely solution will be by using Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR). Regulation 13.10 of MARPOL Annex VI refers to a Technical Review and this was debated at the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee in mid-July. BMF and ICOMIA were represented at the Committee and the aim of the debate was to determine how the Tier III review would be handled e.g. whether by an Expert Group or Correspondence Group, and what the terms of reference of the review would be.

The revision of the RCD has been under discussion since 2008 with interested parties representing Member States authorities, industry stakeholders, consumer associations, standards organisations and representatives of conformity assessment bodies. A public internet consultation took place in May/June 2009. The main areas of interest are in exhaust emissions, alignment with the New legislative framework and clarification of economic operators including private importers as well as the obligations on Notified Bodies and of national enforcement authorities. Additional clarifications were sought for some definitions and essential requirements.

Update from European Boating Industry, EBI.

As reported in Technical Report 99, boats and personal watercraft fall under the scope of the EU directive on electro-magnetic compatibility (EMC) 2004/108/EC. In concrete terms, this means that when issuing the declaration of conformity boatbuilders should also indicate that the boat complies with the EMC requirements and how this compliance is achieved (i.e. using standards or adding a note to the technical file).

The fuel standards applicable for inland waterway vessels within the regulations are:

· BS2869 class A2 automotive fuel for non-road mobile machinery including inland waterway vessels; Sulphur 10mg/kg max (low sulphur); maximum 7% FAME (biodiesel) or FAME free.

The fuel standards applicable for seagoing vessels are:

· ISO 8217 Distillate for marine vessels. Sulphur 1000mg/kg with “de minimis” level of FAME not exceeding 0.1% volume.

The MCA have made available ‘Draft Proposals for Accommodation Standards for Large Yachts to Comply with the Maritime Labour Convention 2006’. This is the culmination of over two years work by the Agency and the industry to develop substantial equivalence provisions to the prescriptive requirements of the Convention.

As previously reported a number of steel narrowboats suffering so-called micro-blistering to the paint finish have caused concern and expense to owners and boatyards alike. This guidance note offers some conclusions about what is now known and precautions to take when painting. Further investigations are ongoing and will be reported as more information is available.

The application of the MLC to smaller vessels has been dealt with separately by the MCA, who have again taken a leading role in understanding the industry’s difficulties. The Convention contains provision for the exemption of these vessels from the cabin area requirements but a number of requirements remain which would be impractical to achieve. The MCA have developed a proposal which is currently under consideration within the Tripartite Group.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency have taken a leading and extremely proactive role in the development of equivalent provisions for the implementation of the MLC for large yachts engaged in commercial activities. As previously reported significant industry and social studies were undertaken to support this work and amendments to Chapter 21 of LY2 will incorporate the substantially equivalent requirements of Title 3 of MLC. Extracts from these provisional equivalent requirements are summarised below.

The Commission has issued changes to the original RCD revision document circulated in April 2010 as reproduced below. The proposal now has to be adopted by the Commission for presentation to the Standing committee in the New Year. Negotiations in Council and the European Parliament will take about two years taking us to 2013 before coming into force with a two or three year transitional period after that date.

Boat builders and those persons responsible for placing craft on the market are reminded that the RCD Declaration of Conformity has provision to show compliance with other Community Directives. The EU Commission services were recently asked a question on applicability of the EMC Directive to recreational craft.

Advanced composite materials with marine applications feature in several existing collaborative projects, or in bids for funding for new projects through the current Technology Strategy Board’s Technology-Inspired Collaborative R&D Call. Expressions of interest for this closed on 18 November with bids understood to include marine businesses. Bids are now passing through the various stages of the competition into the New Year and successful consortia will be known by March.

This is very important information if you import, export, manufacture or sell boat trailers.

UK Regulations came into force on 29 April 2009 that apply to all road vehicles and include boat trailers. Timing will depend on whether the trailers are new or existing types, i.e. manufactured to a new or an existing design. Type approval was voluntary from 29 April 2009. For new trailer types it became mandatory from 29 October 2010 and for existing types from 29 October 2012. This information is not new and has been widely circulated before, but for new trailer types the deadline has now passed and some members are concerned about the cost and effort required to comply.

Following the Government’s comprehensive spending review in October there will be less funding for many things, although the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) will continue to deliver government funded support for collaborative R&D linking industry and academia. This is aimed at helping UK businesses to flourish through innovation and, as reported in TR98, there is now a Transport Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN). The Transport KTN with the Marine Industries Strategic Framework published in March and backed by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, could provide the marine industry with a range of relevant support.

The BMF has recently attended a meeting at with the MCA to discuss the situation with regard to the implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) and it’s application to vessels of under 200GT. The Convention is concerned with the wellbeing of crew and will apply to all seafarers, defined as any person who is employed or engaged or works in any capacity on board a ship to which the Convention applies.

The EU R&D Framework Programme 7 (FP7) 2011 call opened on 20 July for proposals in the field of surface transport covering road, rail and waterborne transport modes. The WATERBORNE Technology Platform is the Advisory Council for Waterborne Transport Research in Europe and has published a Strategic Research Agenda, which is a primary reference source for the Commission in assembling its work programme.

The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) is expected to come into force towards the end of 2011. The potential implications of the MLC on the Large Yacht sector have been widely reported and a large study has been undertaken by the industry supported by the BMF, Superyacht UK, the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA), the Superyacht Builders Association (SYBAss), the Professional Yachtsmans Association (PYA) and the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association (MYBA).

The revision of the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) has been under discussion for some two years and involves all stake holders including member states and industry representatives. The latest document entitled ‘Draft proposals from the Commission services for amending the RCD’ was issued in April of this year.

The main changes proposed revolve around aligning the Directive with the New Legal Framework (NFL) Decision 768/2008/EC. The responsibilities of the Notified Bodies and Member States’ market surveillance bodies are enhanced and the position of legal entities specified to align with the NFL.

The RSG Guidelines are prepared to assist with conformity assessment procedures for the Recreational Craft Directive undertaken by notified bodies.

If you use gas oil (often known as “red diesel”) for propulsion or heating there are changes from January 2011 coming into force.

EU Directive 2009/30/EC requires that, from 1st January 2011, all gas oil marketed for use in non-road mobile machinery (i.e. mobile off road equipment) must contain no more than 10 milligrams of sulphur per kilogram of fuel (virtually ‘sulphur free’). Non-road mobile machinery includes propulsion fuel for inland waterway vessels, recreational craft used on inland waterways and portable generators. Gas oil for sea-going marine use and heating or stationary equipment is not required to be sulphur free.

Presentation by Steve Austen of the RNLI that describes the wealth of design, construction and operational expertise applied to the latest RNLI fleet which includes some of the most technically advanced craft afloat in their construction and equipment.

EU HYMAR project - Development of efficient hybrid marine propulsion by Ken Wittamore, ICOMIA and Triskel Marine Ltd

Human Factors in High Speed Craft - Enhancing Boat Design, Safety and Legal Compliance for Operators by Dr Trevor Dobbins, STResearch Ltd

These General Topic Guides provide brief overviews of statutory requirements and some guidance on how to comply. They are not exhaustive guides and it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that his particular business complies in the context of the services they provide and the circumstances of their operation

These General Topic Guides provide brief overviews of statutory requirements and some guidance on how to comply. They are not exhaustive guides and it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that his particular business complies in the context of the services they provide and the circumstances of their operation.

These General Topic Guides provide brief overviews of statutory requirements and some guidance on how to comply. They are not exhaustive guides and it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that his particular business complies in the context of the services they provide and the circumstances of their operation

These General Topic Guides provide brief overviews of statutory requirements and some guidance on how to comply. They are not exhaustive guides and it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that his particular business complies in the context of the services they provide and the circumstances of their operation

These General Topic Guides provide brief overviews of statutory requirements and some guidance on how to comply. They are not exhaustive guides and it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that his particular business complies in the context of the services they provide and the circumstances of their operation

These General Topic Guides provide brief overviews of statutory requirements and some guidance on how to comply. They are not exhaustive guides and it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that his particular business complies in the context of the services they provide and the circumstances of their operation

These General Topic Guides provide brief overviews of statutory requirements and some guidance on how to comply. They are not exhaustive guides and it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that his particular business complies in the context of the services they provide and the circumstances of their operation

These General Topic Guides provide brief overviews of statutory requirements and some guidance on how to comply. They are not exhaustive guides and it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that his particular business complies in the context of the services they provide and the circumstances of their operation

These General Topic Guides provide brief overviews of statutory requirements and some guidance on how to comply. They are not exhaustive guides and it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that his particular business complies in the context of the services they provide and the circumstances of their operation

These General Topic Guides provide brief overviews of statutory requirements and some guidance on how to comply. They are not exhaustive guides and it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that his particular business complies in the context of the services they provide and the circumstances of their operation

These General Topic Guides provide brief overviews of statutory requirements and some guidance on how to comply. They are not exhaustive guides and it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that his particular business complies in the context of the services they provide and the circumstances of their operation

These General Topic Guides provide brief overviews of statutory requirements and some guidance on how to comply. They are not exhaustive guides and it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that his particular business complies in the context of the services they provide and the circumstances of their operation

These General Topic Guides provide brief overviews of statutory requirements and some guidance on how to comply. They are not exhaustive guides and it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that his particular business complies in the context of the services they provide and the circumstances of their operation

These General Topic Guides provide brief overviews of statutory requirements and some guidance on how to comply. They are not exhaustive guides and it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that his particular business complies in the context of the services they provide and the circumstances of their operation

These General Topic Guides provide brief overviews of statutory requirements and some guidance on how to comply. They are not exhaustive guides and it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that his particular business complies in the context of the services they provide and the circumstances of their operation

These General Topic Guides provide brief overviews of statutory requirements and some guidance on how to comply. They are not exhaustive guides and it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that his particular business complies in the context of the services they provide and the circumstances of their operation

These General Topic Guides provide brief overviews of statutory requirements and some guidance on how to comply. They are not exhaustive guides and it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that his particular business complies in the context of the services they provide and the circumstances of their operation

These General Topic Guides provide brief overviews of statutory requirements and some guidance on how to comply. They are not exhaustive guides and it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that his particular business complies in the context of the services they provide and the circumstances of their operation

This new and up to date Health and Safety Guide is complemented by three Sector Guides covering the specific needs of Boat Building and Repairs, Marinas and Boatyards and Boat Using at Work. These four resources are contained on a single CDROM in an easy to read, fully searchable format, allowing quick access to sections, topics, references and bookmarking. Also included are many of the free guides published by the Health and Safety Executive that can be easily downloaded from the CDROM.

Note to members: one complimentary copy of the report is available on request and the cost below is for additional copies. Please ensure you are logged in to receive your discounted copies.

Click on the image across for more details on the RCD CDRom that has been recently published by the BMF.