IMO reiterates start of non-compliant fuel oil carriage ban
- Published
by Admin
The International Marine Organization (IMO) on Monday (2 March) started the enhancement of the IMO 2020 regulation from 1 March 2020, with entry into force of a ban for the carriage of non-compliant fuel oil.
The IMO 2020 regulation limits sulphur in ships’ fuel oil to a maximum 0.50%. It has been in force globally since 1 January 2020, under IMO’s MARPOL treaty, with benefits for the environment and human health from a reduction in sulphur oxides in the air.
The complementary International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from ships (MARPOL) amendment prohibits the carriage of non-compliant fuel oil for combustion purposes for propulsion or operation on board a ship – unless the ship has an approved exhaust gas cleaning system (“scrubber”) fitted.
The amendment does not change in any way the 0.50% limit which has been in force since 1 January 2020.
It is intended as an additional measure to support consistent implementation and compliance and provide a means for effective enforcement by States, particularly port State control.
In designated emission control areas, the maximum sulphur limit in fuel oil is 0.10 % (the four ECAs are: the Baltic Sea area; the North Sea area; the North American area (covering designated coastal areas off the United States and Canada); and the United States Caribbean Sea area (around Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands)).
Photo credit and source: International Marine Organization
Published: 4 March, 2020
