The UK Club informed that it has received an update from Oasis P&I Services Company Ltd., regarding breach of low-sulphur fuel requirements in ECA in China. Recently, local MSA offices strengthened supervision and inspection, imposing penalties on ships which were found to violating these requirements.
In China the sulphur content of the fuel oil used by ships must not surpass 0.5%m/m when they enter into the Emission Control Areas in China since 01 January 2019.
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In recent months, there are reports of cases in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Qingdao and some other ports, where local MSA offices strengthened supervision and inspection, and applied penalties on ships in breach of the relevant requirements, in order to ensure compliance with the regulation.
For this reason, UK Club recommended the following:
- In order to avoid the penalty and possible delay of schedule, vessels are recommended to follow the relevant requirements and use low-sulphur fuel oil not exceeding 0.5%m/m in Emission Control Areas in China. Shifting to low-sulphur fuel should be completed before ships enter into ECA and switching back to high-sulphur fuel should be done after they are out of ECA. Ships are also recommended to keep record of the switching time, ship position, fuel sulphur content before and after switching, low-sulphur fuel consumption, etc. in engine logbook;
- If a vessel cannot obtain or use the required low-sulphur fuel oil for special reasons, she may apply to local MSA for exemption with supporting evidences 24 hours before arrival.
