CIRCULAR TO MASTER ‘T’-02 DATE: 21 NOVEMBER 2012

APPLICABLE TO ALL VESSELS

Sub: Maintenance of the NOx Record Book of Engine Parameters

The following guidelines are aimed at highlighting the

importance of maintaining a NOx Record Book of Engine Parameters
and guiding ship’s staff towards proper completion of the same.

This Record Book is required to be maintained if the Engine

Parameter check method is selected in the marine diesel engine’s
Technical File, as an approved method of on-board verification
of continued compliance of the engine’s emissions with the
applicable NOx limit. Governing regulations are MARPOL Annex VI
regulation 13 and Resolution MEPC.177(58) – NOx Technical Code
2008.

Such on-board verification is done during Renewal, Annual and

Intermediate surveys to confirm that the Engine International
Air Pollution Prevention certificate can continue to be
maintained in respect of each marine diesel engine covered by
the regulations.

All marine diesel engines of power output greater than 150 KW

and installed on a ship constructed on or after 1st Jan 2000 are
covered by these regulations; however engines that are to be
used solely for emergency purposes, including emergency
generator and lifeboat engines do not fall within the purview of
these regulations.

The following documentation is required to be maintained on

board a ship in respect of each marine diesel engine to which
the regulations apply and which are required to undergo
verification using the engine parameter check method:

1) A Technical File, prepared by the manufacturer, that

identifies the engine’s components, settings or operating
values that influence exhaust emissions and must be checked
to ensure compliance. The Technical File shall contain all
applicable information, relevant to the NOx emission
performance of the engine, on the designated engine’s
components, adjustable features and parameters at the time
of the engine’s pre-certification. For further details of

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 the contents of the Technical File, regulation 2.4.1 of the
NOx Technical Code 2008 should be consulted.

Depending on the specific design of the particular engine,

the Technical File may describe different on-board NOx-
influencing modifications and adjustments including the
engine parameters as follows:

• Injection timing
• Cylinder head
• Cylinder liner
• Piston Connecting Rod
• Sealing ring
• Fuel injection pump
• Fuel injection valve
• Fuel injection nozzle
• Camshaft
• Turbocharger
• Compressor wheel
• Diffuser
• Nozzle ring
• Turbine rotor
• Air cooler

2) A Record Book of Engine parameters for recording all

changes, including like-for-like replacements, and
adjustments within the approved ranges made relative to an
engine’s components and settings.

So, all replacements and adjustments, including normal

maintenance of parts considered to influence the NOx emission
levels, i.e. those listed in the engine’s Technical File, need
to be recorded in the Record Book of Engine Parameters.

The aim of recording all changes is to maintain a historical

record to help determine if there have been any deviations from
the specifications in the engine’s Technical File which may
cause the engine’s NOx emission levels to vary outside the
approved range.

To summarize, the following needs to be recorded in the Record

Book:

• Any changes affecting the designated engine parameters,

including adjustments, parts replacements (with parts with

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 a different IMO number from the orogonal part) and
modifications to engine parts, must be recorded
chronologically.

• Like-for-like replacements (for example injector changes

with the same IMO number or Piston changes with the same
IMO number) and adjustments within the approved ranges.

The following pages contain examples of sample entries and

entries made on board from the Engine Record Book of a Main
Engine.

______________________

SANJAY CHANDRA
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

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