China: Jinshan cracks down on vessels breaching 0.5% sulphur limit

Jinshan Maritime Safety Administration on Friday (15 December) said it has been cracking down on ships found using bunker fuels that contain sulphur content higher than the permitted amount of 0.5%.

Recently, it investigated and dealt with such a case involving a foreign ship and has imposed penalties on it in accordance with the law.

On 3 December, the Jinshan Maritime Safety Administration Command Centre discovered through AI video that a foreign ship was emitting black smoke for as long as three minutes while it was anchoring and berthing.

Immediately, the centre notified law enforcement officers to board the ship to conduct inspections, focusing on collecting and testing oil samples from the ship’s bunker fuel.

After testing by a third-party testing agency, the sulphur content of the ship’s bunker fuel sample was 0.591% m/m, exceeding the 0.5% limit permitted in China’s domestic atmospheric pollution prevention and emission control area (ECA).

According to Article 106 of the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution”,  anyone who violates the provisions of this law and uses fuel oil for ships that do not meet the standards or requirements, shall be prosecuted by Maritime Affairs Management agencies. If found guilty, individuals may be fined more than CNY 10,000 yuan (USD 1,410), not exceeding CNY 100,000.

Disclaimer: The above article published by Manifold Times was sourced from China’s domestic market through a local correspondent. While considerable efforts have been taken to verify its accuracy through a professional translator and processed from sources believed to be reliable, no warranty is made regarding the accuracy, completeness and reliability of any information.

Photo credit: Jinshan Maritime Safety Administration
Published: 20 December, 2023