Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI regarding the recording of operational compliance with NOx Tier III regulations within Emission Control Areas (hereinafter referred to as "NECA"*) were adopted at the Sixty-ninth Session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC69) held in April 2016. These amendments will enter into force on 1 September 2017.

In accordance with the aforementioned amendments, ships installed with diesel engines subject to NOx Tier III regulations are required to have the tier and on/off status of any engines certified to both Tier II and Tier III, or certified to Tier II only, recorded in such logbook as prescribed by the Flag Administration upon each entry into and each exit from an NECA as well as in cases where there are any changes in the on/off status of such an engine within an NECA. In addition to the tier and on/off status of the engine, the relevant date, time and position of the ship are also to be recorded accordingly in the logbook.

Shipping companies (i.e., shipowners, ship managers, or organizations or persons responsible for ship operation) are kindly requested to be aware of this matter and take action to ensure compliance with the above requirements.

* Designated NECAs and application dates are as shown below. Compliance with NOx Tier III regulations is required for diesel engines installed on board ships whose keels are laid or which are at similar stages of construction on or after the application date and operating within NECAs.

- The North American Area whose outer boundary is 200 nautical miles from the United States and Canadian territorial sea baseline (designated by Resolution MEPC.190(60))
Application date: 1 January 2016

- The United States Caribbean Sea Area (designated by Resolution MEPC.202(62))
Application date: 1 January 2016

- The Baltic Sea Area and the North Sea Area (designated by Resolution MEPC.286(71))
Application date: 1 January 2021

(To be continued)