The Association would like to remind its Members that the new EU low-sulphur limit comes into force on the 1st January 2010. Members should be prepared for the new regulations and take all possible steps to ensure that they conform.
The 2005 amendments to the EU Sulphur Directive state that ships at berth and at anchor within EU ports must use marine fuel with a sulphur content of less than 0.1%. The regulation can be seen below.
“1. With effect from 1 January 2010, Member States shall take all necessary measures to ensure that the following vessels do not use marine fuels with a sulphur content exceeding 0,1 % by mass:
(a) inland waterway vessels; and
(b) ships at berth in Community ports, allowing sufficient time for the crew to complete any necessary fuel-changeover operation as soon as possible after arrival at berth and as late as possible before departure.
Member States shall require the time of any fuel changeover operation to be recorded in ships' logbooks.”
The directive details a number of exemptions to the requirements, namely for those vessels at berth for less than two hours and those who use shore power when in port. It is hoped that some level of leniency will be allowed in the initial period although the Club would urge its Members to ensure that every effort has been made for all vessels to be compliant by January 2010 to avoid potential fines.
A good overview of the issues has been produced by Capt B Turner and Andrew Preston of Clyde and Co, with their kind permission you can find this document here.
Clyde and Co.
The full content of the directive can be found using the link below.
Europe Directive 2005/32/EC
