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.
We would like to draw Members' attention to the attached Client Advisory #01-19 from Gallagher Marine Systems (GMS) advising that the National Pollution Fund Center (NPFC) is closed and will remain closed until the current U.S Government shutdown is resolved, and/or the USCG is allocated funding to fulfil its various missions.
The attached PDF Circular from the UK Club Correspondents details how all Ports within the three ECAs in China will be implementing the Low Sulphur Fuel Requirement from 01.01.2018.
Hong Kong will introduce their own regulation to require vessels plying Hong Kong waters to use cleaner fuel from January 2019 to complement the efforts under the PRC's Ministry of Transport's action plan for the Hong Kong, Macau and PRD (Pearl River Delta).
The MARPOL permitted limit for sulphur content in ships' bunker will be reduced from 3.5% m/m to 0.50% m/m for ships operating outside designated emission control areas
