The China Maritime Safety Administration has issued updated guidelines to enhance supervision and administration of ECAs detailing how compliance with emission control measures will be verified in the Chinese ECAs which set out:
- Various documentary and record/sample keeping requirements for ships in respect of low sulphur fuel when calling at ports within the ECAs, with vessels being detained and penalties imposed for failure to comply;
- Requirements for alternative measures to avoid use of high sulphur fuel; and
- Requirements for vessels in breach of the regulations in special situations such as damage to the vessel or for the safety of the vessel or life.
Also, the Shanghai MSA issued a formal notice to implement the decision on higher requirement of fuel sulphur content from 1st April 016. According to the notice, vessels calling Shanghai port are required to use fuel with sulphur content ≤0.5%mm when staying at berth (from one hour after getting berthed till one hour before departure from berth) from 1st April 2016. The key ports in the Yangtze Delta ECA will also implement the 0.5% requirement from 1 April 2016. Whilst formal notification has yet to be issued, it is expected that the requirements listed above for Shanghai will shortly be implemented for the Ports of Ningbo, Zhoushan, Suzhou and Nantong. Owners are advised to take appropriate measures when calling Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Suzhou and Nantong as from 01 April 2016 to ensure satisfaction of relevant requirements and to avoid any delay or penalty to the ship.
Please click below to read a Circular issued by Huatai Insurance Agency & Consultant Service Ltd. (by the Japan P&I Club)
