Antarctic fuel oil ban and North American ECA MARPOL amendments enter into force on 1 August 2011
A new MARPOL regulation to protect the Antarctic from pollution Amendments to IMO's MARPOL Convention for the prevention of pollution from ships enter into force on 1 August 2011, banning heavy fuel oil from the Antarctic and creating a new North American Emission Control Area (ECA).Use or carriage of oil in Antarctic AreaA new MARPOL regulation to protect the Antarctic from pollution by heavy-grade oils is added to MARPOL Annex I (Regulations for the prevention of pollution by oil), with a new chapter 9 on Special requirements for the use or carriage of oils in the Antarctic area.Regulation 43 prohibits both the carriage in bulk as cargo and the carriage and use as fuel, of: crude oils having a density, at 15C, higher than 900 kg/m3; oils, other than crude oils, having a density, at 15C, higher than 900 kg/m3 or a kinematic viscosity, at 50C, higher than 180 mm2/s; or bitumen, tar and their emulsions.This means, in effect, that ships trading to the area, whether passenger or cargo ships, would need to switch to a different fuel type when transiting the Antarctic area, defined as "the sea area south of latitude 60S". An exception is envisaged for vessels engaged ...
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