ECM Client Alert 22-2019 - US ECA - USCG Guidelines for Compliance & Enforcement

The USCG’s Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG-CVC) has issued an updated guidance outlining how it will enforce Marpol Annex VI requirements, including the IMO 2020 Sulphur cap, within the two US.

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 Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has issued a new Advisory A‐15‐2017 which clarifies certain issues relating to requirements under the ACP's fuel regulations for all vessels transiting the Panama Canal.

Marpol Annex VI requires ships to reduce SOx emissions either by burning low sulphur fuel or by cleaning the exhaust gas.  Exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS), also known as “scrubbers”, have been fitted onboard many ships as an acceptable equivalent method of compliance under Marpol Annex VI. Many more ships are intending to have scrubbers fitted.