A proposal by China to mandate specific ISO test methods for sulphur, after a proposal made by IBIA to the IMO, has won support to be further considered as the IMO consider measures to ensure uniform implementation of the 0.5% sulphur limit.
China submitted its proposal to the MEPC 72, proposing that the test method of sulphur content of fuel oil should be made mandatory to avoid disputes, and that the methods should be ISO 8754:2003 or ISO 14596:2007.
China’s proposal argued that because the test range of ISO 8754 only varies from 0.03% to 5.00%, it does not cover situations where ships receive and use fuel oil with a sulphur content lower than 0.03%. China therefore proposed adding ISO 14596 which covers fuels in the 0.001% to 2.50% sulphur range.
This test method can record lower values, IBIA says, but the test reporting protocol nevertheless specifies that results must be reported within the defined range.
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Seven member states supported China’s paper and there were no objections.
