OW Bunker warns of potential safety issues in Turkish waters
When new local sulphur legislation comes into force from 1st January 2012 Bunker supplier and trader OW Bunker has warned of potential safety issues that shipowners and operators will face in Turkish waters when new local sulphur legislation comes into force from 1st January 2012.The ruling, delivered by the Turkish Chamber of Shipping and the Turkish General Directorate of Marine Transport states that: '...marine fuels whose sulphur content exceeds 0.1% by mass cannot be used as of 1st January 2012 in the inland vessels and in the vessels on the quay.'"This is a significant move by the Turkish authorities and is much more restrictive than current sulphur regulations," said Steffen Kortegaard, OW Bunker technical director.The new Turkish regulations mean that 0.1% sulphur content gas oil must be used by vessels calling at Turkish ports between the end of the sea passage and the commencement of the sea passage, including in port anchorage areas.However, this regulation will not be applicable for vessels transiting through the Turkish Straits, such as the Bosporus or Dardanelles, even if they drop anchor providing the vessels maintain transit status.Kortegaard continued: "As we have seen in California, vessels that are used to burning heavy fuel oil face ...
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