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.
The IMO announced that two new draft mandatory measures to cut the carbon intensity of existing ships have been agreed by its Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships.
The Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on global trade has led to many shipowners selling off their ships for dismantling earlier than they might otherwise have done. According to the NGO Shipbreaking Platform, 166 ships were broken up in the first quarter of 2020, and 98 ships in the second quarter.
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.
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.
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%.
Members are referred to ECM Maritime Services LLC’s Client Alert 21-2019 for details of ACP’s updated fuel requirements for vessels anchoring, transiting through and docking at terminals in Panama Canal waters. These requirements will apply from 1 January 2020, in compliance with IMO 2020.
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.
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.
Helen Huang – Senior Claims Executive from Thomas Miller’s Hong Kong office provides an introduction to China’s marine oil pollution laws with a discussion on the relevant International Conventions, China’s domestic laws and Ship Pollution Response Organisations (SPROs).
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.
The UK Club has received the attached circular from the Port of Fujairah Marine Department, regarding a recent ban on open loop scrubbers within the port.
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 UK Club has received the attached circular from our local correspondents, Huatai Insurance Agency & Consultant Service Ltd, regarding the prohibition of discharging waste water generated by open-loop exhaust gas cleaning systems (Scrubbers) within Emission Control Areas in China.
China ECAs - Members are reminded that from 1 January, 2019, all seagoing ships sailing in Chinese territorial waters will need to use fuel with a sulphur content of no higher than 0.5% m/m
