Council Directive 1999/32/EC, relating to the reduction in the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels, has been amended as follows:

1. As of 1 January 2008, gas oils and marine gas oil are not to be used within UK territory, if their sulphur content exceeds 0.1%, by mass. In this context UK territory is taken to include the waters of the territorial sea but does not apply to the UK counter pollution zone.

2. The following definitions have changed in order to be accepted by the EU.

• Heavy Fuel Oil: Any petroleum derived liquid fuel, excluding marine fuel, falling within CN code 2710 19 51 to 2710 19 69, or; any petroleum derived liquid fuel, other than gas oil as defined below, which by reason of its distillation limits, falls within the category of heavy oils intended for the use as fuel and of which les than 65% by volume (including losses) distils at 250OC by the ASTM D86 method. If the distillation cannot be determined by the ASTM D86 method, the petroleum product is likewise categorised as a heavy fuel oil.
• Gas Oil: Any petroleum derived liquid fuel, excluding marine fuel, falling within CN Code 2710 19 25, 2710 19 29, 2710 19 45 or 2710 19 49, or; any petroleum derived liquid fuel, excluding marine fuel, of which less than 65% by volume (including losses) distils at 250OC and of which at least 85% by volume (including losses) distils at 350OC by the ASTM D86 method.

Note: Diesel fuels as defined in Article 2(2) of Directive 98/70/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 1998 relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and amending Council Directive 93/12/EEC are excluded from this definition. Fuels used in non-road mobile machinery and agricultural tractors are also excluded from this definition.

• Marine Fuel: Any petroleum derived liquid fuel intended for use in or on board a vessel, including fuels defined in ISO 8217.
• Marine Diesel Oil: Any marine fuel which has a viscosity or density falling within the ranges of viscosity or density defined for DMB and DMC grades in Table 1 of ISO 8217.
• Marine Gas Oil: Any marine fuel which has a viscosity or density falling within the ranges of viscosity or density defined for DMX and DMA grades in Table 1 of ISO 8217.

Use the link below to view the full text of the notice on the MCA website:

Source of information:

Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA)