MARPOL-certificates and marine pollution prevention equipment:

BG Verkehr / Dienststelle Schiffssicherheit
Referat Maschine
Brandstwiete 1
20457 Hamburg


Holger Steinbock
Phone: +49 40 36137-217
Fax: +49 40 36137-204
Mail: maschine@bg-verkehr.de


Jörg Heuckeroth
Phone: +49 40 361 37-231
Fax: +49 40 361 37-204
Mobile: +49 171 50 57 038
Mail: maschine@bg-verkehr.de



Administrative offences in relation to MARPOL infringements:

Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie
Sachgebiet S 41
Bernhard-Nocht-Straße 78
20359 Hamburg

Katrin Ewert
Phone: +49 40 31 90 74 10
Fax: +49 40 31 90 5000
Mail: marpol@bsh.de

Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency Design Index for new ships (EEDI)

Ship exhaust gases can not only be reduced by the use of higher quality fuels or exhaust gas cleaning systems, but also by increasing the energy efficiency of a ship. For this reason, the International Maritime Organization IMO has adopted an amendment to MARPOL annex VI to increase the energy efficiency of new ships.

All new ships must now have a so called Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI). The EEDI is an index for new ships indicating the CO2 emissions per ton of cargo and nautical mile sailed. The energy efficiency of tankers, bulk carriers and container ships can be calculated by a formula taking into account the ship’s size. There are also formulas for other types of ships such as ferries, passenger ships or special types of ships (e.g. tugs and supply vessels).

In addition, a reference line for every type of ship is established. The EEDI of the individual ship may not exceed the reference line. This reference line shall be re-adjusted at fixed intervals (four phases) to the technical advances in ship technology.

The aim of the EEDI is a reliable and transparent basis for comparison to promote the development of more efficient ships and at the same time specify a minimum efficiency of new ships depending on the type and size of ship. The IMO aims at a CO2 reduction for new ships of 20 % to 30 % within a time span of 12 years.

Here you can find more information about EEDI:

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Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP)

Another measure to increase energy efficiency on board of ships is the introduction of a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP). The shipowner of existing ships (not only new ships) is required to develop such a management plan on the basis of the IMO guidelines and to keep it permanently on board. This plan should reflect all parameters influencing fuel consumption during operation. These include the calculation of the most economical ship speed, but also weather routing, currents and optimized trim depending on the ship’s loading condition. The SEEMP is flexible, without mandatory requirements for CO2-reduction. This plan will hopefully help to reduce CO2 emissions of existing ships by 15 to 20 %.

The IMO has issued the Resolution MEPC.282(70) – 2016 Guidelines for the development of a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP).

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International Energy Efficiency (IEE) certificate

The flag state confirms with the International Energy Efficiency Certificate (IEE certificate) that there is

  • a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) as well as
  • an EEDI (only new ships from 1 July 2013)

in place. The IEE certificate is mandatory for any ship on international voyages with a size of 400 GT and above.

The Ship Safety Division of the BG Verkehr issues the certificate for ships under German flag on the basis of a survey by a class.

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Ships have to become more efficient

IMO's Maritime Environment Protection Committee MEPC adopted several measures to further reduce the world's merchant fleet's fuel consumption and thereby its CO2 emissions. For the first time, these provisions include existing ships as well.

With two measures MEPC wants to make sea-going ships more efficient, and therefore more environmentally friendly:

  1. All ships of 5000 GT and more have to meet certain efficiency standards with the new EEXI (Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index). In order to achieve this, ship operators have to implement technical means to significantly lower their fuel consumption and thereby the CO2 emissions of their ships. Already since 2013, a similar requirement, the EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index), has been in place for existing ships. The EEXI engages nearly the complete trading global merchant fleet to reduce their current CO2 emissions by up to 50 % depending on the ship type from 2023.
  2. Moreover, the IMO requires that from 2023 the ship operations are aligned with stricter CO2 emission levels. Every ship receives an assessment of its CO2 intensity, which is divided into five categories from A to E. This categorization is done with the CII (Carbon Intensity Indicator). A similar assessment is already known from electronic devices and cars. Based on the Carbon Intensity Indicator CII, shipping companies whose ships are assessed as class D or E in three in consecutive years have to develop a list of measures to reduce CO2 sufficient to return to class C. This instrument is also meant to increase pressure on ship operators to deploy only their most efficient ships on the market. In addition, the CII creates transparency for all market participants and a comparable data pool.

Currently, international working groups develop guidelines for the implementation of these measures to ensure the starting date 1st January 2023. Furthermore, the IMO panels plan further measures to reduce emissions from shipping such as alternative fuels, emission trade, as well as a CO2-free maritime transport of goods in the long run. The MEPC has not made any concrete decisions to this regard, however.

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