The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) released a circular, warning operators to take all necessary measures to prevent their vessels from emitting excessive soot, ash, or dark smoke from engine exhaust and/or ancillary shipboard machineries throughout the duration of vessel stay in port.
MPA wants to make sure that vessels do not emit excessive smoke as it can have a negative impact on the air quality in the atmosphere. MPA informed that it will take strict action against offenders.
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It also draws the attention of ship masters and owners of craft in the port to Regulation 66 of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Port) Regulations which states that:
No person may cause smoke, soot, ash or grit to be emitted from a vessel in such quantity or density as may, in the opinion of the Authority, be a nuisance.
In an operator fails to comply with the above regulation, this would be an offence for which offenders can be prosecuted in Court. If convicted, offenders may be fined up to $5,000.
How to prevent excessive emissions
- Regular and proper maintenance of components such as fuel oil heaters, fuel injectors, scavenge air coolers and turbochargers, help reduce the excess soot emission from the main engine funnel.
- Generators must be running at optimal load and are not running under excessively low load or over-loaded conditions.
- For boilers and inert gas generators, control of the correct air-fuel mixture ratio is important to ensure optimum combustion.
- Ship’s crew should also be vigilant and conduct a frequent check on the funnel emission.