Vitsan P&I Correspondents have informed on vessels calling into Turkiye in 2025 in light of IMO’s designation of the Mediterranean Sea as an Emission Control Area (SECA) for sulphur oxides and particulate matter.
Under this new regulation, all vessels navigating within the designated Mediterranean SECA must use marine fuels with a maximum sulphur content of 0.10% m/m or alternative compliance methods as per MARPOL Annex VI.
The Turkish Straits (including the Canakkale Strait, Bosphorus, and the Sea of Marmara) are not included in the designated SECA zone. However, according to local Turkish regulations, the vessels at berth or at anchor should use bunkers with Sulphur content max. 0.1% and the vessel navigating in Turkish waters (except Mediterranean Sea) can use bunker with Sulphur content max. 0.5%.
If the vessels have the available bunker on board, the bunker change from 0.5% to 0.1% should be made in a sufficient time before / just arrival or just / after the departure.
The vessels adrift waiting for transit around the Turkish straits or staying at anchorage area less than 2 hours do not have to change to 0.1% Sulphur content bunker. (except the areas defined in IMO Resolution MEPC.361(79).
Based on the recommendations issued by the Turkish authorities, Vitsan advises vessels to take into consideration:
- Keeping fuel that complies with the 0.10% sulfur limit and fuel delivery documents on board
- Reviewing the fuel change procedure and documents
- Carrying out procedures on board in accordance with the procedures
- Increasing the knowledge of the relevant crew
- Recording the amount of low sulfur fuel in the tanks and the date, time and position information for fuel change when entering and exiting the SECA opening of the ship
- It is essential to maintain accurate and complete records regarding the quantity of low sulphur fuel in the tanks, as well as the date, time, and position of fuel change-over when the vessel enters or exits a SECA zone
- Showing that the scrubber system installed on the ship complies with the 0.10% sulfur limit and keeping the records on board regarding the use of these systems regularly
Fines for sulphur content of bunkers in Turkiye
According to new provision, the vessels using fuels with sulphur content beyond the limits allowed by the IMO regulations and by Turkish law will be imposed a penalty and the tariff of fines to be applied in 2025 is as below:
- For vessels up to 1,000 (inclusive) gross ton TL 1,016.88 per gross ton
- For vessels between 1,000 and 5,000 gross ton TL 127.10 to be added per gross ton over 1,000 gross ton to the item A
- For the vessels over 5,000 gross ton TL 25.43 to be added per gross ton over 5,000 gross ton to the item A+B
