Iceland – Effective ban on use of heavy fuel oil in territorial sea

The Government of Iceland have issued a news release stating that, effective 1 January 2020, the permissible sulphur content of marine fuels used in the territorial sea and internal waters of Iceland will be lowered from 3.5% to 0.1%.

On the same day, the permissible sulphur content of marine fuels will be lowered down to 0.5% within the Icelandic Pollution Prevention Zone but outside of the territorial sea.  As heavy fuel oil has in most cases a higher sulphur content than 0.5%, this effectively brings a halt to the use of heavy fuel oil around Iceland. Vessels can however continue to burn heavy fuel oil if they use “approved emission abatement methods to reduce the release of sulphur dioxide, which prevent[s] most sulphur emissions into the atmosphere along with soot pollution.”

For additional information, Members can see the full Icelandic Government notice here.

Members are also referred to the Club's Sulphur 2020 resource page for the latest developments on the impending IMO requirements.