SOx ECA(s) Technical Committee of Experts
Background
Through REMPEC Circular Letters No. 08/2016 and 09/2016, dated 15 March 2016 and 15 April 2016, respectively, the Centre invited all REMPEC Governmental Focal Points to nominate jointly and, in consultation with REMPEC Prevention Focal Points, their representatives serving on the SOx ECA(s) Technical Committee of Experts established pursuant to Specific Objective 15 of the Regional Strategy (2016-2021).
To date, REMPEC has received nominations from all twenty-two (22) Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention.
Objectives/Phases of work
Before COP 21
7 Specific Objective 15 of the Regional Strategy (2016-2021) tasks the SOx ECA(s) Technical Committee of Experts to carry out the Technical and Feasibility Study. As planned, the SOx ECA(s) Technical Committee of Experts has carried out its works, through correspondence REMPEC (Secretariat), through the following phases:
- Phase 1a: review the draft Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the provision of consultancy services for the preparation of the Technical and Feasibility Study, as prepared by the Secretariat;
- Phase 1b: review a draft generic questionnaire in support of the Technical and Feasibility Study, as prepared by the Secretariat;
Phase 2: review the draft Technical and Feasibility Study, as prepared by the Secretariat; and - Phase 3: review the revised draft Technical and Feasibility Study together with draft recommendations, including a draft road map as well as an initial draft submission to the IMO, as prepared by the Secretariat.
The study was completed and submitted to the 13th Focal Point Meeting of REMPEC for consideration.
As of COP 21
COP 21 adopted Decision IG.24/8 (Road Map for a Proposal for the Possible Designation of the Mediterranean Sea, as a whole, as an Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides Pursuant to MARPOL Annex VI, within the Framework of the Barcelona Convention), which extends the mandate of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) sulfur oxides (SOx) Emission Control Area (ECA)(s) Technical Committee of Experts, until 30 April 2021, to oversee the completion of the knowledge gathering and the preparations of further studies, notably socio-economic impacts on individual Contracting Parties, as indicated in the list below, as well as the development of their respective terms of reference, through correspondence coordinated by REMPEC:
(a) Knowledge gathering:
- synopsis of the assessment;
- quantification of the impacts associated with deposition of PM2.5 and air toxics;
- additional detail of land-based emissions controls of SOX and PM in the Mediterranean coastal States; and
- additional elements on the economic impacts on shipping engaged in international trade.
(b) Further studies:
- additional economic impact evaluation, more precisely:
- analyses of the impacts on shipping engaged in international trade as well as on trade modal shift outside the Mediterranean; and
- analyses of the impacts on short-sea shipping activity as well on the social and economic impact on Contracting Parties including on development for islands, insular and remote areas.
- additional fuel supply and technology analyses (regional fuel production, fuel availability, and alternative compliance technologies).