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.
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.
In fact, it is said that the Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG-CVC) released work instruction CVC-WI-022 with the aim to provide guidance to Coast Guard marine inspectors as well as port state control officers for ensuring vessel compliance with MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14.
As the 2020 sulphur cap came into force on the 1st of January 2020, the shipping industry is still challenged by the de-bunkering methods of heavy sulphur fuel oil, with the pressure of flag states which will begin detecting for non-compliant fuel oils.
When the IMO 2020 takes effect, three types of fuel oil samples will be used in the industry: The statutory MARPOL sample drawn during the bunker operation, the statutory samples drawn by PSC and the commercial samples drawn during the bunker operation.
As part of its efforts to reduce ship emissions and lift air quality around ports and harbours, New Zealand will sign up to Annex VI of MARPOL, the international maritime convention for the prevention of pollution from ships.
The Hong Kong Marine Department issued a shipping note to advise parties concerned on the 2019 Guidelines for PSC under MARPOL Annex VI Chapter 3 adopted at IMO’s 74th Session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 74).
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) announced that the Pre-Arrival Notification (PAN) has been revised to incorporate the requirements for reporting on the use of compliant fuels in accordance with the fast approaching IMO 2020 sulphur cap.
Mr. George A. Gaitas, Attorney and Partner, Gaitas & Chalos, P.C, shares his predictions regarding what owners should expect in the US in the enforcement of MARPOL Annex VI regulations after Jan 1st of 2020 and, specifically, whether the US will widely implement criminal sanctions as it has done with enforcement of Annex I.
Maritime New Zealand informs that from January 1, 2020, New Zealand flagged vessels that will visit foreign ports of states in line with MARPOL Annex VI – Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships will have to be compliant with two new requirements.
