Low-sulphur shipping fuel under the spotlight
Sulphur emissions on the agenda at IMO London event Governments and industry representatives met in London on 10 September 2013 to discuss the future availability of low-sulphur fuel which will drive down pollution from shipping. The requirements of MARPOL Annex VI for low sulphur fuel were the main theme of the event hosted by U.K. shipping minister Stephen Hammond MP and IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu at the IMO headquarters as part of the London International Shipping Week.In 2008 the UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed measures to limit polluting sulphur emissions from shipping.The sulphur limit for fuel used in seas other than specially designated emission control areas, which have stricter limits, is currently 3.50%, and will be reduced to 0.50% from 1 January 2020 - subject to a review of the availability of 0.50% sulphur fuel.According toUK Department of Transport representatives of maritime nations and international industry associations attended the event at which the hosts stressed the importance of dispelling the uncertainty which surrounds the start date for the review and highlighted a way forward.Mr Sekimizu saidhis comments are directly related to the theme of this year, sustainable development and sustainability of shipping. "The revised Annex VI of the MARPOL ...
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