Tag: 2020 sulphur cap

The global coronavirus outbreak has triggered major financial and logistical difficulties, making Chinese shipping entities to raise concerns of their ability to comply with the IMO sulphur rules, introduced in January 2020.

The IMO 2020 global sulphur limit for marine fuel oil has now been in force for over one month. For this reason, BIMCO, ICS, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO are calling on fleet- and vessel managers, as well as technical superintendents, to share their insight and experiences with the new IMO 2020 compliant fuels.

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has spoken of the “urgent need” to develop concrete measures to support IMO’s initial strategy to reduce GHG emissions from shipping. Speaking during the European Shipping Week in Brussels, of 20 February, Mr. Lim supported that ambitious regulatory targets will act as catalysts for technology, triggering research, development and innovation.

A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, the world’s largest container shipping company, is positioning itself for a strong rebound in two months, forecasting that the fallout of the coronavirus on global trade may soon peak.

Panama, Norway, Greece and other actors are co-sponsoring a proposal originally tabled by Japan to curb the carbon intensity of existing ships through use of an Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI), much like the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) which is mandatory for new ships.

As we are two months into 2020, IMO’s sulphur cap is being implemented worldwide and considering the radicality of the new regulation, its implementation has been smooth so far. However, that does not mean that there are no breaching cases, while the discussion regarding the best way to comply has heated up. What’s more, from March 1st, the regulation will enter the next phase, meaning that the industry has only few days to discharge fuel that has a sulphur content greater than 0.50% m/m.

Recent attention has been focused on the reduction of the global sulphur cap from 3.50% to 0.50% - but don’t forget there are lower sulphur level requirements in designated MARPOL emission control areas and areas defined by regional governmental entities.

IMO 2020 has been in effect since 1 January 2020. From 1 March 2020, the carriage ban on non-compliant fuel oil will enter into force, helping to support implementation of the global sulphur limit. To support the safe and consistent sampling of fuel oil being carried for use, and the enforcement of the carriage ban, IMO’s Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR), meeting this week (17-21 February), will finalize draft guidelines for the verification of the sulphur content of the fuel oil carried for use on board a ship. 

The Norwegian Maritime Authority conducted several inspections in 2019, analyzing sulphur content in bunkers and carrying environmental checks on cruise ships at the fjords to ensure that the regulations for environmental protection are being followed.

During the annual assembly of the members of the Union of Greek Shipowners, Theodoros Veniamis, President of UGS, provided his comment on the 2020 sulphur cap, which is already in place. To reduce shipping emissions, UGS has backed the reduction of the maximum propulsion power of ships.