Tag: IMO 2020

The entry into force of the sulphur cap in the beginning of 2020 is – and will be – the highlight of the year. However, at the end of 2020, ships must comply with another very important requirement. Specifically, starting from 31 December 2020, ships above 500 GT and flying the flag of an EU/EEA member state, or third-party flagged vessels calling at European ports, must carry an Inventory Hazardous Materials (IHM) certificate on board. To shed light on this matter, DNV GL hosted a webinar, providing more information about the subject.

Maersk is now increasing fuel surcharge imposed on the transport of boxloads of goods as the implementation of the new environmental rules sent the industry’s costs soaring.

Steamship Mutual attempts to examine how compliance to the Global Sulphur Cap is to be determined; what procedures will apply and what will be used to ascertain whether bunkers on board and the operation of the ship are compliant, in relation to vessels without scrubbers or other equivalent means of compliance by reference to the IMO Guidelines available.

The Standard Club Association, recently announced that the Port of Karachi in Pakistan joined the increased list of ports which have forced a ban against open-loop scrubbers. Specifically, Port of Karachi will from now on prohibit the discharge of wash-water coming from open-loop scrubbers. 

Finland and Germany submitted a study to the IMO’s Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) sub-committee, in order to be revised during its session scheduled for February. This document presents results of a measurement campaign for the analysis of the impact of fuel oil quality on Black Carbon emissions. The results indicate that new blends of marine fuels with 0.50% sulphur content can contain a large percentage of aromatic compounds, which have a direct impact on Black Carbon emissions.

The Maritime Safety Agency in China has recently issued Guidelines for Supervision and Management of Air Pollutant Emissions, aiming to standardize the implementation of the January 1, 2020 sulphur cap. The Guidelines define inspection procedures in regard to fuel oil in use on ships, and provisions for alternative measures.

In fact, the Managing Director of the National Iranian Oil Product Distribution Company (NIOPDC)’s Markazi Department recently said that low-sulfur fuel oil needed for the country’s vessels is now fully supplied and distributed by the company.

Reuters reports that global supplies of marine fuel compliant with the new environmental rules are increasing fast as concerns over quality remain marginal. Despite initial concerns about availability of very low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) late last year, the preferred compliant marine fuel supplies at key hubs now seem adequate, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). What is more, concerns that the VLSFO, which is a blend of high-sulphur and low-sulphur fuel, could damage engines are now less prominent.

According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) 29 out of 45 Singapore's licensed bunker suppliers, have readily available 0.50% sulphur fuel oil, with all expect two having IMO 2020-compliant marine gasoil (MGO). Although, there are still several reports that some shipowners are struggling to find very low sulphur fuel (VLSFO).

Port of Tallin officially issued its annual cargo for 2019, marking 5.6 million tonnes and 2.3 million passengers who passed via its harbors, in the fourth quarter (Q4). As the Tallin's chairman highlighted, the IMO 2020 sulphur cap enhanced the port's liquid bulk volumes in the fourth quarter of 2019.