A new regulation on ship emission control areas of the Pearl river delta, the Yangtze river delta and Bohai sea waters was issued by the Ministry of Transport of P.R.China.

The new rules provide the following timetable:

• 1 January 2016, the ports in the control areas may make their own rules and require ships that berth at these ports to use bunker with sulphur no more than 0.5%mm.
  
  
• 1 January 2017, all ships berthing in the main ports of the control areas shall use bunkers with sulphur contents no more than 0.5%mm.
  
  
• 1st January 2018, all ships berthing in the ports of the control areas shall use bunkers with sulphur contents no more than 0.5%mm.
  
  
• 1 January 2019, all ships entering into the control areas shall use bunkers with sulphur contents no more than 0.5%mm.

Before and by 31st December 2019, pending the outcome of further assessment, it is to be decided whether ships entering into the control areas shall burn bunkers with sulphur contents no more than 0.1%mm.

The new regulation applies to all the ships which are sailing, anchor aging or working in this emission control areas, excluding military ships, sport ships and fishing boats.

Update 14th December 2015

We understand the following through the IG local contract:

1. No port in the three control areas has adopted any new rules in respect of the marine emission. It is believed that major ports like Shanghai and Shenzhen are making preparations to introduce a lower limit, this is being closely monitored;
2. The current applicable rule on marine emission is in accordance with the requirement provided in Annex VI of MARPOL, i.e. the fuel with the sulfur content of no more than 3.5% mm;
3. Members are recommended to contact their bunker suppliers as at which Chinese ports low sulfur bunkers are available in preparation for any new rules to be implemented.

For more information please contact Helen Huang (helen.huang@thomasmiller.com)