Iceland lowers domestic sulphur content of bunkers to 0.1% from 2020

The Government of Iceland on Friday (6 December) said the Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources has issued a regulation tightening fuel requirements, which effectively bans the use of heavy fuel oil in the territorial sea of Iceland.

The permissible sulphur content of marine fuels used in the territorial sea and internal waters of Iceland will be lowered from 3.5% down to 0.1% on January 1, 2020.

This will make the permissible sulphur content in marine fuels in Iceland 0.1% in the territorial sea and internal waters (i.e. also in fjords and bays), comparable with those that are currently in effect in Emission Control Areas.

The regulation is intended to promote improved air quality in harbours and coastal areas and conforms with the government’s coalition agreement and climate action plan, and effectively brings a halt to the use of heavy fuel oil around Iceland.

Vessels can, however, continue to burn heavy fuel oil if they use approved emission abatement methods to reduce the release of sulphur dioxide, which prevents most sulphur emissions into the atmosphere along with soot pollution.

Published: 12 December, 2019