SEEMP, Special Areas, EEDI and EEOI

SEEMP (Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan) is an operational measure established to improve the energy efficiency of ships in a cost-effective manner. It is mandatory under MARPOL Annex VI for ships of 400 Gross Tonnage (GT) and above.

Purpose

SEEMP provides a standard framework for shipowners and operators to manage and continuously improve the energy-efficiency performance of individual ships and fleets.

Main Principle

SEEMP follows a continuous improvement cycle:

PLAN → DO → CHECK → ACT

• Plan: Identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency.
• Do: Implement the selected measures.
• Check: Monitor and evaluate the results.
• Act: Take corrective action and further improve performance.

Key Measures

SEEMP encourages operational practices such as:

• Speed optimisation
• Weather routing
• Hull cleaning and maintenance
• Propeller polishing
• Efficient cargo handling
• Better planning and management of ship operations

These measures help to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

For larger ships, SEEMP also includes requirements related to monitoring and reporting the ship's carbon-intensity performance.

A Special Area under MARPOL is a sea area where, due to recognised technical reasons relating to its oceanographical and ecological conditions and the particular character of its traffic, the adoption of special mandatory methods for the prevention of sea pollution is required.

Therefore, discharge requirements in Special Areas are generally stricter than those applicable in normal international waters.

Special Areas are designated under different MARPOL Annexes.

1. MARPOL Annex I – Prevention of Pollution by Oil

Special Areas include:

• Mediterranean Sea
• Baltic Sea
• Black Sea
• Red Sea
• “Gulfs” area
• Gulf of Aden
• Antarctic area
• North West European waters

In these areas, stricter controls on oil discharges apply.

2. MARPOL Annex IV – Prevention of Pollution by Sewage

The Baltic Sea is currently the designated Special Area for sewage.

Stricter requirements apply to the discharge of sewage from ships in this area.

3. MARPOL Annex V – Prevention of Pollution by Garbage

Special Areas include:

• Mediterranean Sea
• Baltic Sea
• Black Sea
• Red Sea
• “Gulfs” area
• North Sea
• Antarctic area
• Wider Caribbean Region

The discharge of garbage and other waste is subject to stricter restrictions in these areas.

4. MARPOL Annex VI – Prevention of Air Pollution

Under Annex VI, specially controlled areas are known as Emission Control Areas (ECAs). They impose stricter limits on ship emissions, particularly SOx and NOx.

Examples include:

• Baltic Sea
• North Sea
• North American area
• United States Caribbean Sea area

Both EEDI and EEOI are measures associated with MARPOL Annex VI for improving the energy efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint of shipping. However, they are used for different purposes and stages of a ship's life.

1. EEDI – Energy Efficiency Design Index

EEDI is a technical/design measure applicable to new ships.

It establishes a minimum required level of energy efficiency for different ship types and size categories, generally expressed in terms of CO₂ emissions per unit of transport work, such as grams of CO₂ per tonne-mile.

EEDI is non-prescriptive, meaning that it does not specify exactly which technology must be used. Ship designers and builders can choose suitable technologies to achieve the required efficiency.

Examples include:

• Improved hull design
• More efficient propeller and propulsion systems
• Energy-efficient engines
• Waste-heat recovery
• Alternative fuels
• Other energy-saving technologies

In simple terms:

EEDI = Design efficiency of a new ship.

2. EEOI – Energy Efficiency Operational Indicator

EEOI is an operational monitoring tool used to measure the actual energy efficiency of a ship while it is in service.

It is calculated using the ship's actual fuel consumption and the actual transport work performed during a specific voyage or period.

It allows ship operators to:

• Monitor actual fuel efficiency.
• Compare performance between voyages or periods.
• Identify areas where fuel consumption can be reduced.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of operational measures introduced through the SEEMP.

In simple terms:

EEOI = Actual operational efficiency of a ship.

Key Difference

Easy Way to Remember

EEDI → Design the ship efficiently.

SEEMP → Operate the ship efficiently.

EEOI → Measure how efficiently the ship is actually operating.