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.
Low Sulphur Fuel Requirement from 01.01.2018
21/12/2017
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.
The Association has been recently advised of the outcome of the INTERCARGO meeting further to IMO's MEPC 70 meeting held on 24-28 October 2016.
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).
Zika virus update- March 17
10/03/2017
The MEC is no longer required for vessels calling from Zika affected countries/areas.
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.
EPA publishes new ECA penalty policy
19/01/2015
Members will be aware from the Club's legal briefing on stricter air pollution regulations and subsequent updates that from 1st January 2015 vessels trading in designated areas would have to use fuel on-board with a sulphur content of no more than 0.10%.
New regulation on ship emission control areas of Pearl river delta, Yangtze river delta and Bohai sea waters was issued by Ministry of Transport of P.R.China.
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.