Cyprus is committed in implementing the 2020 sulphur cap, despite worries within the shipping industry regarding safety, quality, compatibility and availability of the new fuels that will enter the market. What is more, Deputy Minister for Shipping Natasa Pilides, said that the government will take all necessary measures to supervise the proper implementation of the regulation.
Ms. Pilides added that Cyprus, as the authority that will supervise the regulation, is ready to adopt all necessary procedures to ensure its implementation, depending on the option that shipowners choose, be it scrubbers or compliant fuels.
In addition, a Cyprus Shipping Chamber official told the Financial Mirror, that the methods currently available for compliance with the sulphur cap include the use of:
- Marine gas oil (MGO) or distillates;
- Very low sulphur fuel oil or compliant fuel;
- Alternative fuels such as LNG ;
- Scrubbers.
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In addition, ICS Chairman Esben Poulsson, highlighted that fuel suppliers have also an important part in providing sufficient quantities of safe and compliant low sulphur fuels. However, shipowners must prepare their ships for implementing the new regulation properly.
Commenting on this, the Cyprus Shipping Chamber official mentioned that fuel suppliers must make sure that there will be sufficient quantities of safe and compliant fuel worldwide well before 1 January 2020. In this aspect, Cyprus considers crucial for countries to collect and report as soon as possible to the IMO the availability of compliant fuel, or problematic cases.
Finally, to prepare their ships, Mr. Poulsson suggests shipowners to use the adopted IMO template. This will be able to reduce the possibility of problems during the initial implementation, or in case of initial Port State Control difficulties because of factors that are beyond the shipowner’s control.
