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 Government of Iceland have issued a news release stating that, effective 1 January 2020, the permissible sulphur content of marine fuels used in the territorial sea and internal waters of Iceland will be lowered from 3.5% to 0.1%.
From 1 September 2017, in Jiangsu and Zhenjiang provinces, the requirement of all ships at berth (1 hour after arrival and before departure are excluded) using low sulphur bunker (not exceeding 0.5%mm) is geographically expanded from the major ports to all ports within these two provinces.
China ECA'S update
15/03/2017
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.
Members' attention is drawn to the attached update on the 2019 tariffs for pollution fines in Turkish waters
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.
Recent amendment to South Korea's regulations concerning the imposition and collection of oil spill response costs
The Maritime and Port authority of Singapore (MPA) has released a port circular regarding the control of smoke emissions by vessels in Port.
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.