Refers to: Ship-owners, Operators, Masters and Managers

Action Date: Immediate

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued MEPC.1/Circ.917, providing interim guidance on the carriage of biofuel blends containing up to 30% biofuel by volume on conventional bunker ships certified under MARPOL Annex I. Relevant to this is Marine Advisory 14/2025  issued by the Liberian Registry on May 30 2025.

Key Provisions:

• Carriage Authorization: Biofuel blends containing no more than 30% biofuel by volume may be transported on conventional bunker vessels without necessitating modifications to the ship’s IOPP Certificate.

• Tank Residues and Washings: All tank residues and washings must be discharged to shore reception facilities, unless the ship is equipped with an Oil Discharge Monitoring Equipment (ODME) approved for the specific blend.

• Regulatory Alignment: This interim guidance is consistent with MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.9, which outlines the definition of biofuels and their compliance with MARPOL Annex VI, including NOx requirements.

• Recognized Biofuel Types: The following biofuel types are included under this guidance:
  • FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters)
  • FAEE (Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters)
  • HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil)
  • SVO (Straight Vegetable Oil)
  • Glycerol
  • Other biomass-to-liquid (BtL) fuels

Action Required:

Owners and operators of bunker vessels intending to carry biofuel blends should ensure compliance with the above requirements and consult MEPC.1/Circ.917 for complete details.

Contact:

For further clarification or guidance, please contact us at technical@phrs.gr or for vessels under LISCR you may contact directly the LISCR Regulations and Standards Department at:
RegsandStandards@liscr.com