In efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on supply chains, the UK Maritime Coast Guard Agency has already suspended all checks on vessels for compliance with the 2020 sulphur cap regulations.
To remind, IMO’s 2020 sulphur cap regulation came into force on January 1st, 2020, aiming to crucially reduce shipping emissions.
Now, following the negative impact of the pandemic to the shipping industry, UK MCA stated that
in terms of enforcing IMO 2020 and ultimately MARPOL Annex VI requirements, as we have suspended port state control inspections, this also means that the checking of compliant fuel has been suspended.
Despite suspension of all checks, the UK MCA will continue to monitor ships that arrive in British ports and will also inspect ships ships if they have received information indicating that an inspection would be appropriate.
