MARPOL and Annexes:

The MARPOL Convention (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships)
is a global treaty aimed at safeguarding the marine environment from pollution caused by ships.
It comprises two Protocols and six Annexes, each addressing specific aspects of pollution
prevention:
Annex I: Prevention of pollution by oil. It imposes strict limitations on oil discharges and
requires special equipment on ships.
Annex II: Control of pollution by noxious liquid substances in bulk (e.g., chemical tankers).
Discharges are prohibited unless specific conditions are met.
Annex III: Prevention of pollution by harmful substances carried in packaged form (e.g.,
dangerous goods in containers).
Annex IV: Prevention of pollution by sewage from ships. Discharges are generally prohibited.
Annex V: Prevention of pollution by garbage from ships. Different discharge regulations apply to
various types of garbage.
Annex VI: Prevention of air pollution from ships. It limits emissions of nitrous oxides, sulfur
oxides, VOCs, and PM.
The BWM Convention, which addresses ballast water management, is also part of MARPOL.
EEXI (Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index):
EEXI measures a ship’s energy efficiency compared to a baseline (Energy Efficiency Design
Index, EEDI).
Ships must calculate their attained EEXI and report their annual operational carbon intensity
indicator (CII) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Compliance with EEXI is mandatory for ships designed to carry ballast water and above 400
gross tonnages.
EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index):
EEDI sets energy efficiency standards for new ships during the design phase.
It aims to reduce CO2 emissions per transport work.
Ships must meet EEDI requirements to ensure better environmental performance.
Ballast Water Management (BwM) Plant:
Ballast water is essential for ship stability but can transport invasive species.
The BWM Convention regulates ballast water discharge.
Ships must have valid certificates, a BWM plan, and a Ballast Water Record Book.
The convention includes two regulations:
D-1 (Ballast Water Exchange): Involves exchanging ballast water in deep oceans to prevent
species transfer.
D-2 (Ballast Water Treatment): Requires using Type Approved Ballast Water Management
Systems (BWMS) to treat ballast water.

MARPOL Case Study: Ballast Water Management in the Black Sea’s Ports:
The objective of this case study was to improve ballast water management in the Black Sea’s
ports.
It addressed issues related to controlling the introduction of marine non-indigenous species
through ballast water discharged by ships.
The study quantified the amount of ballast water discharged in major Black Sea ports and the
potential impact of invasive species.
Despite global awareness, only three of the six neighbouring countries in the Black Sea basin had
ratified the International Convention on Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments
(MARPOL Annex VI) by 20041.
EEXI Case Study: Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) Implementation:
EEXI is a measure introduced by the IMO to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships.
Ships must calculate their attained EEXI and report their annual operational carbon intensity
indicator (CII).
The case study could explore how different ship types and sizes comply with EEXI requirements
and implement energy-saving measures2.
EEDI Case Study: Improving Energy Efficiency of Ships:
The Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) promotes energy-efficient equipment and engines
for new ship designs.
Case studies could focus on specific ship types, retrofitting energy-saving devices, and achieving
compliance with EEDI requirements3.
Ballast Water Management Case Studies:
Various case studies exist on implementing ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) on different
types of vessels.
Examples include retrofits on tankers, ferries, and container ships.
These studies assess the effectiveness of BWTS in preventing invasive species and complying
with regulations456.