USCG informs owners and operators of U.S. flagged vessels of the applicability of MARPOLAnnex VI, Chapter 4 provisions, including the amendments that enter into force on November 1, 2022.
Owners and operators of U.S. flagged vessels that engage in voyages into waters subject to the jurisdiction or control of any foreign country will be required to show compliance with Chapter 4 and should work with their classification society to verify compliance with the applicable requirements in order to carry the appropriate international certificates as required by Chapter 4.
At this time these Chapter 4 provisions do not apply to U.S. flagged vessels that do not enter waters subject to the jurisdiction or control of any foreign country.
In addition, vessels operating solely on the Great Lakes are not subject to Chapter 4. However, voyages that make use of the Panama Canal to transit between the U.S. Atlantic or Gulf coasts and the Pacific coasts are considered international voyages and will be required to demonstrate compliance with Chapter 4.
USCG may exempt vessels not normally engaged in international voyages from applicability in exceptional circumstances, per the guidance found in MEPC.1-Circ.863 Recommendation on exemption of ships not normally engaged on international voyages from the requirements in Chapter 4 of MARPOL Annex VI.
Requests for exemptions should be made through the cognizant Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) and forwarded to the Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG-CVC) for approval.
