The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has been working to reduce the harmful impacts of shipping on the environment, setting progressively stricter limits on the sulphur content of fuel oils used by vessels. Failure to comply with these new rules can lead to substantial fines.
Recently, the IMO has adopted a 2008 resolution that introduces a reduced global sulphur cap on marine fuels. The current global limit of 3.5% mass/mass (m/m) shall decrease to 0.5% m/m from 1 January 2020.
While the new regulation has been welcomed by all, there are challenges in ensuring its full compliance and enforcement. This page is dedicated to provide Members with the resources necessary to overcome these challenges.
In the lead up to the implementation of the IMO Sulphur regulations (on 1 January 2020), the shipping industry raised concerns over the uncertainty and potential diversity of the VLSFO characteristics so the ISO committee in charge of ISO 8217 has published a global overview of the key VLSFO fuel characteristics.
The IMO has been regulating and reducing sulphur emissions from ships since 2005, Learn more about issues which we have seen coming into play along with legal and practical tips which may be of help to members.
The IMO announced that two new draft mandatory measures to cut the carbon intensity of existing ships have been agreed by its Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships.
The Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on global trade has led to many shipowners selling off their ships for dismantling earlier than they might otherwise have done. According to the NGO Shipbreaking Platform, 166 ships were broken up in the first quarter of 2020, and 98 ships in the second quarter.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has announced the SOX Emission Control Area in major Korean ports, which strengthens the sulfur content standard of ship fuel oil to 0.1% or less according to the Article.
