Your Guide To Sustainable Regulations: EEXI and CII

Reducing the environmental impact of the shipping industry is a top priority for marine stakeholders and legislative bodies, with green regulations for emissions like NOx and SOx already in force.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set 2030 as the target date for reducing ships’ carbon emissions by 40%^[1], one of several upcoming decarbonization ambitions[2]. To meet this target, IMO has drafted a set of amendments to existing regulations intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vessels: the EEXI and CII.

Introducing the EEXI and CII

The EEXI is a framework for determining the energy efficiency and CO₂ emissions of in-service vessels over 400 GT. Adapted from the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for newbuilds, the EEXI requires ship owners to assess and measure their ships’ CO₂ emissions by design against specific emission reduction factors for each vessel type. Owners can then implement technical measures to adjust their vessels’ emissions to the required level.    

The CII requires in-service ships of over 5,000 GT to quantify and report on carbon emissions from ongoing operations. The CII provides ship operators with the factor by which they must reduce carbon emissions annually to comply with regulations and ensure continuous improvement. Vessels will be rated on a five-tiered scale (from A to E) for performance.

Both the EEXI and CII were introduced by IMO at the Marine Environmental Protection Committee in November 2020 (MEPC 75) and are subject to adoption in June 2021 at the MEPC 76. If approved, the EEXI and CII will come into force at the end of 2022.

EEXI and CII for ship owners and managers

Ship owners and managers will need to prepare for EEXI and CII requirements in advance, taking the time needed to assess and improve their vessels as needed. This is crucial to ensure that vessels are ready by the end of 2022, having demonstrated compliance and earned the proper certificates to continue trading internationally.

Ship managers will need to take a series of steps to achieve compliance. Vessels can undergo a preliminary EEXI assessment, then gain review for preliminary technical files and earn a statement of compliance. Verification of the ship in service’s EEXI will take place at the first annual, intermediate or renewal survey for its IAPP certificate after the entry into force of the amendment.

For CII, managers can determine ships’ carbon intensity profiles and develop an optimized SEEMP by the end of 2022. Documentation confirming ship compliance with CII requirements will be provided by January 2023, and must be present onboard from then on.

To comply with EEXI and CII regulations, ship operators may need to target ongoing improvement. Ships have many options for improving energy efficiency and limiting carbon emissions, including limiting engine loads and reducing speed, switching to low-carbon fuels, and retrofitting vessels with new fuel or energy-efficient technology,

Supporting clients with EEXI and CII

To help clients comply with EEXI and CCI requirements, Bureau Veritas Solutions Marine & Offshore – a wholly owned subsidiary of Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore – offers a variety of services. BV Solutions M&O helps ship managers and owners undertake a pre-assessment, calculating EEXI and CII and reviewing available technical information. Our experts then help clients identify technical and operational improvement methods for their vessels, and support owners in implementing innovative technologies onboard as necessary.

These services are performed independently from the regulatory activities offered by Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, which include the verification of technical files for EEXI and CII.

^[1] As compared to 2008 levels
^[2] IMO has targeted a 70% reduction of carbon intensity and a 50% reduction in emissions by 2050