Industry Guidance on Compliance with the Sulphur ECA Requirements

From 1 January 2020, the new 0.5% m/m global limit for sulphur in fuel used on board ships comes into effect. Parties in the bunker chain i.e. those involved in the production, distribution, storage, handling and use of bunker fuels have expressed concerns over the practical implementation of this new global limit, a substantial drop from the current 3.5% m/m. A Joint Industry Project (JIP) was therefore established to raise awareness of the issues which might arise.

The International Group and CINS have issued revised joint industry guidance on the carriage of Calcium Hypochlorite by sea (first publication in May 2016) that now takes account of the package limit of 100lb drums under US measurement as well as the previously stated package limit of 45kg net weight.

The Club would like to remind Members that commercial vessels calling at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will, in addition to complying with the U.S. federal government’s enforcement of MARPOL Annex VI and the California Air Resources Board’s enforcement of its low-sulphur and shore power connection (At-Berth) regulations, also have to ensure compliance with the rules of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (“AQMD”).

The UK P&I Club have updated their Q&A on Bunkers Convention Certificates for 2020.