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.

China MSA have strengthened enforcement of the low sulphur fuel regulation (with sulphur contents no more than 0.5%) at all 11 core ports since 1 January 2017.

The UK Club has received the following update from Oasis P&I Services Company Ltd., regarding breach of low-sulphur fuel requirements in ECA in China.

Members' attention is drawn to the attached update on the 2019 tariffs for pollution fines in Turkish waters

While no changes are anticipated in the US enforced Emission Control Areas (ECAs) on or after 1 January, 2020, US regions outside the ECAs will need to ensure compliance with the IMO's 2020 global 0.5% sulphur cap from 1 January, 2020.

China MSA has issued a Notice on the implementation of a Ship Routing System and a Ship Reporting System in the Minjiang River Estuary of Fuzhou Port for the purpose of enhancing traffic efficiency and ensuring safety of navigation in the Fuzhou water area.

Air pollution from maritime transport is a global environmental concern. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has been working to reduce the harmful impacts of shipping on the environment, but as highlighted in the attached Legal Update, challenges for compliance and enforcement in regards to Sulphur emissions still remain.

The Club has learnt that Paris MOU, Tokyo MOU, Indian Ocean MOU and Black Sea MOU port state control (PSC) regimes have agreed to focus on the prevention of air pollution by ships during their forthcoming concentrated inspection campaigns (CICs) - 1 September 2018 and 30 November 2018.

The IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) set 1st of January 2020 as entry-into-force date of the 0.50% m/m global sulphur in marine fuel cap at its 70th session on 24th - 28th October 2016. In preparation for implementation of the limit, extensive work has been carried out by IMO and recently by its Intersessional Working Group that met during 9th -13th July 2018.