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.
The IMO Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) held its 78th session (MEPC 78) remotely from June 6-10, 2022, and this article seeks to summarise the outcomes from MEPC 78.
A global fuel sulphur cap of 0.5% was introduced from 1 January 2020, while the 0.1% sulphur cap continued to apply within the ECAs designated under MARPOL Annex VI
Bunker issues post 2020 shake-up
11/11/2020
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.
Korea New ECA Rule
03/08/2020
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.
The UK P&I Club recently hosted a live webinar. Patrick Ryan, the Club's Sustainability Director, asked the panel how the shipping industry's decarbonisation strategy is shaping up?
The Sea Cargo Charter
08/09/2021
The Sea Cargo Charter ("the Charter") provides a global transparent framework and baseline for assessing and disclosing the climate alignment of chartering activities against the IMO's absolute target as set out in its Initial Strategy which is to reduce the shipping industry's total annual greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions by at least 50% of 2008 levels by 2050
The IMO MEPC Review on VLSFOs
04/03/2021
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 Club has partnered with Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS), a global market leader in marine fuel testing and bunker surveys