MEPC 83: Green shipping picks up speed

The 83rd session of the International Maritime Organisation’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) took place in London in April 2025, marking a pivotal moment in the shift toward decarbonisation in shipping. 

With emissions reductions, fuel regulation, and environmental monitoring at the heart of the agenda, MEPC 83 laid the foundation for some of the most ambitious climate policies the maritime sector has ever seen.

The headline development was the approval of the IMO Net-Zero Framework, a new package of regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping.  

What is the IMO's Net-Zero Framework?

The plan includes a fuel standard that will gradually lower the permissible carbon intensity of marine fuels over time, alongside a global economic mechanism that applies a levy-and-reward system to incentivise cleaner fuel use.  

These measures are designed to push shipping toward net-zero emissions by 2050, aligning with broader global climate goals.

For operators and suppliers in oil and gas, this is more than just paperwork.  

The Net-Zero Framework will start affecting commercial fuel strategy and ship operations as early as 2027, with compliance mandatory for vessels over 5,000 gross tonnage, covering around 85% of the world fleet’s CO₂ emissions.  

The implication is clear: low-carbon alternatives like LNG, methanol, ammonia, and biofuels are moving from niche to necessity, and demand for accurate fuel quality and emissions monitoring will only increase.

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What is an Emission Control Area (ECA)?

Another major outcome from MEPC 83 was the approval of a new Emission Control Area (ECA) in the North-East Atlantic.  

Once fully adopted, this zone will impose a 0.10% sulphur limit on marine fuel and strict nitrogen oxide controls for new ships, echoing the standards already seen in the North Sea and North America.  

These regional air quality zones are reshaping fuel supply chains and driving investment in scrubbers, selective catalytic reduction systems, and cleaner fuels across Europe and beyond.

The committee also adopted technical amendments to MARPOL Annex VI and the NOx Technical Code, making it easier for ship engine manufacturers to certify engines under multiple operating profiles.  

This reflects a growing recognition that modern engines often switch between fuel types and power settings, and the regulatory framework needs to support, not hinder, emissions optimisation.

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New guidelines for methane and NOx

For monitoring professionals, one of the most significant but under-the-radar developments was the adoption of new international guidelines for measuring methane and nitrous oxide emissions from ship engines.  

These gases, particularly methane slip from LNG-powered vessels, have been a blind spot in maritime climate policy until now.  

The new guidelines establish standard procedures for measurement both in the lab and at sea, offering a first step toward future regulation.

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Exploring onboard carbon capture

MEPC 83 also initiated the process of regulating onboard carbon capture systems. While still years away from implementation, the committee’s decision to begin developing a regulatory framework by 2028 signals serious intent.  

For the shipping sector’s largest fuel suppliers, especially those exploring carbon capture at the refinery or terminal level, this could open new markets in onboard integration and CO₂ offloading infrastructure.

Public access to emissions data

Another step toward transparency came in the form of amendments to MARPOL enabling public access to anonymised ship fuel consumption and emissions data collected through the IMO Data Collection System.  

This move brings shipping closer in line with other high-emitting sectors and gives environmental monitors and regulators a broader view of performance across the global fleet.

Rounding out the session were updates to ballast water management and pollution prevention measures.  

These may not grab headlines, but they’re vital for tankers and gas carriers operating across jurisdictions with differing standards.

All told, MEPC 83 signals a more aggressive posture from the IMO on climate and pollution.  

Shipping is under increasing pressure to contribute to global emissions reductions, and the IMO is pushing the sector toward technologies and fuels that can meet that challenge. 

For those in the business of emissions control, compliance instrumentation, and fuel quality monitoring, the regulatory environment is growing more demanding but also more predictable.

By Jed Thomas