AMSA informs operators of the requirements for the use of Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS) to support compliance with the sulphur limit of 0.50 mass per cent concentration (m/m) in fuel oil.
As AMSA explains, the EGCS must be approved by the vessel’s flag State Administration, or a recognised organisation appointed by the flag State. The EGCS must also be operated in accordance with IMO requirements, including the IMO 2015 Guidelines for Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems.
In addition, crew members must be properly trained in the use of the EGCS and the system must be kept in good working order, with maintenance up to date and monitoring devices fully operational. The EGCS approval documents, as well as operational and maintenance records for the EGCS must be maintained on board the vessel and made available for inspection upon Port State Control Officer (PSCO) request.
Wash water discharges
AMSA is currently investigating the potential impacts of EGCS wash water discharges on Australian port environments and has commissioned a study to determine the potential cumulative impacts of wash water discharges from open-loop EGCS over time.
This investigation will inform whether any future restrictions on the use of EGCS in Australian waters are needed. While the discharge of wash water from EGCS is currently permitted in Australian waters, vessel owners, operators and Masters are encouraged to avoid discharging wash water within Australian port limits.
Notification to AMSA before arrival
The master, owner or operator of a vessel using an EGCS must notify AMSA before the first arrival at an Australian port after installation and approval of the EGCS, and provide the below information to [email protected] :
- Vessel name (in email subject title)
- IMO number
- Arrival port
- Arrival date
- EGCS Scheme A or Scheme B approval
- Make and Model of EGCS
- Open-loop, closed-loop or hybrid-type system
- Results of all wash water testing that has been undertaken in accordance with 2015 Guidelines for Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems.
A vessel should only need to provide the above information to AMSA once, before their first arrival at an Australian port.
There is no need to notify AMSA for subsequent voyages to Australia unless the information provided to AMSA has changed.
What is more, wash water testing should be conducted upon commissioning of the EGCS and repeated every twelve months, as a minimum, for a period of two years.
Vessels may be also directed not to discharge wash-water from an EGCS in Australian waters if this data cannot be provided to AMSA.
Scrubber malfunction
In case there is an EGCS malfunction, action must be taken as soon as possible to identify and remedy the malfunction. Any EGCS malfunction that lasts more than one hour, or repetitive malfunctions, should be reported to the flag State Administration and Competent Authority of the port State of the vessel’s destination. The report should include an explanation of the steps that are being taken to address the failure.
If the vessel’s EGCS cannot be returned to a compliant condition within one hour, the vessel must then change over to compliant fuel oil. If the vessel does not have sufficient compliant fuel oil to reach the next port of destination, the vessel will need to make a report to the relevant authorities, including the vessel’s flag State Administration and the Competent Authority for the next port of destination.
The report must outline the vessel’s proposed course of action, which might include bunkering compliant fuel oil at the next port or carrying out repair works. Where this occurs on an Australian Vessel or a Foreign Vessel within Australian waters, this report should be sent to [email protected]
AMSA concluded.
