The requirements for MARPOL 73/78 Annex VI to come into force were fulfilled on 18 May 2004. Hence, the Annex will enter into force on 19 May 2005. The outlines of the Annex, onboard surveys and preparations before entry into force of the Annex, etc. are given for your information. The Annex VI will apply to all ships, except where expressly provided for otherwise in the Annex. The control objects of this Annex are Ozone depleting substances, Nitrogen oxides, Sulphur oxides, Volatile organic compounds and Shipboard incineration.
In addition, this Technical Information describes ClassNK's general interpretations of Annex VI. When implementing Annex VI, please note that it is necessary to pay attention to the instructions by the Governments of the flag states upon application of Annex VI.

1. Outline of MARPOL ANNEX VI
(1) Application
MARPOL ANNEX VI will basically apply to all ships on or after 19 May 2005, irrespective of their year of construction, service area or size, and retroactive application will be made for Nox emissions from diesel engines and shipboard incinerators. However, special exemptions are provided for in the regulations 3, 5, 13, 15, 18 and 19 of this Annex.
The term "All ships" here means all types of ship operated in the marine environment, including hydrofoil ships, air-cushion ships, submarines, floating equipment and platforms fixed or floating.

(2) Inspection items and requirements of the regulations
(I) Ozone depleting substances
Inspection items:
Equipment including ozone depleting substances like halons and chlorofluorocarbons etc. e.g. fire extinguishers and refrigeration etc.
Requirements:
Any deliberate emission of ozone depleting substances shall be prohibited. New installations which contain ozone depleting substances shall be prohibited on all ships, except that new installations containing hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are permitted until 1 January 2020.
In addition, this regulation follows the Montreal Protocol of 1987 and equipment that has already been installed can remain installed.
(To be continued)