The Chinese Ministry of Transport extended the 0.5% sulphur cap Emission Control Area (ECA) to all ports within Zhejiang ECA, China which is part of Yangtze River ECA. Now, all vessels calling Nanjing, Hangzhou and Taizhou are advised to follow 0.5% sulphur limit requirement to avoid any delays or penalties.
The Ship and Port Pollution Prevention Special Action Plan, adopted in September 2015, requires eleven ports within the ECAs in Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta, and Bohai-rim Waters to use fuel with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.50 per cent whilst berthed effective from the beginning of 2017. From 1 January 2018 the requirement will be extended to all ports located within the ECAs.
That being said, although the requirement for the new three areas (Nanjing, Hangzhou and Taizhou) in Yangtze River Delta was scheduled to enter into force from January 2018, the authorities decided to bring it earlier, starting from September 1st 2017, according to sources. The key ports in which the 0,5 sulphur cap has been implemented since January 1st, 2017 are: Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Suzhou and Nantong.
The decision was made in a bid to further boost green policy and emissions reduction in the shipping sector.
