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 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?

IMO Tier III NOx compliance is now mandatory for new vessels entering certain emission control areas

The IMO Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) held its 78th session (MEPC 78) remotely from June 6-10, 2022. This article summarises the outcomes from MEPC 78.

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

UK P&I Club has partnered with Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS), a global market leader in marine fuel testing and bunker surveys

January 1st, 2020, has been set as the implementation date for a significant reduction in the sulphur content of the fuel oil used by ships.

IMO FAQs relating to new requirements relating to sulphur emissions that are due to enter into force in emission control areas on 1st January 2015

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.