1 The Conference of Parties to the International
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified
by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, held from 15 to 26 September
1997 in conjunction with the Marine Environment Protection Committee's
fortieth session, adopted, in Conference Resolution 2, the Technical Code on Control of Emission of Nitrogen Oxides
from Marine Diesel Engines (The NOx Technical Code).
2 The purpose of the NOx Technical
Code is to establish mandatory procedures for the testing,
survey and certification of marine diesel engines which will enable
engine manufacturers, shipowners and Administrations to ensure that
all applicable marine diesel engines comply with the relevant limits
for emission values of NOx as specified in regulation 13 of Annex VI to MARPOL
73/78.
3 It is noted that regulation
13 of MARPOL Annex VI is intended to be applied to diesel engines
installed on ships constructed on or after 1 January 2000. While the
requirements of the regulation could not be enforced before the entry
into force of the Protocol of 1997, it should be clearly understood
that engines installed on ships constructed on or after 1 January
2000 or engines which undergo a major conversion on or after 1 January
2000 will have to meet these requirements once the Protocol enters
into force.
4 To allow uniform application of the Code, and
to assist Administrations in certifying engines in accordance with
it, prior to the date of entry into force of Annex VI, the guidelines
attached at annex to this Circular are recommended to be used.