Regulations for air emissions from ships
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued a Marine Notice to provide general information on Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). Annex VI of MARPOL contains regulations for the prevention of air pollution from ships and addresses the properties of marine fuels and engines, amongst other things. This Marine Notice focusses on MARPOL regulations that control emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides (NOx). These controls are divided between those applicable inside Emission Control Areas (ECAs) and those applicable everywhere else. In Australia these regulations are given effect in the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships Act) 1983 and Marine Order 97 – Marine pollution prevention – air pollution. SOx and Particulate Matter Emissions SOx and particulate matter emissions are a function of the sulphur content of fuel. Accordingly, the SOx control requirements in MARPOL Annex VI provide for a progressive global reduction in the sulphur content of marine fuels to reduce the emission of SOx and particulate matter from ships. The current maximum sulphur content of fuel oil in areas other than ECAs is 3.5 per cent. This will be reduced to 0.5 ...
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