The UK has implemented amendments to MARPOL Annex VI covering ship efficiency, alternative fuel safety, and engine emissions, reported Saint Petersburg's PortNews.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency stated that the update tightens requirements for the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan, mandating more detailed reporting under the IMO Data Collection System. It also introduces a revised compliance format for fuel oil consumption monitoring, replacing the 2022 guidelines with the 2024 version.

Amendments to the IGF Code, effective since January, expand mandatory technical provisions for vessels using gases or low-flashpoint fuels. These provisions cover ship design, fuel containment, bunkering, fire safety, and onboard control systems, and formalize the use of high manganese austenitic steel in cryogenic fuel tanks for LNG-fueled ships.

Changes to the NOx Technical Code, due to take effect on 1 September 2026, tighten certification procedures for engines undergoing major modifications or seeking compliance with different emission tiers. The measures reinforce enforcement of nitrogen oxide limits under regulation 13.

The UK has adopted the full package of internationally agreed amendments without adding national requirements, embedding updates through ambulatory references in existing legislation.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, part of the Department for Transport, oversees maritime safety and environmental compliance. The International Maritime Organization sets global standards for shipping, maintaining conventions such as MARPOL and SOLAS.