IMO 2020

ISO Working Group takes stand on 0.50% sulphur marine fuel oils

Addresses ‘several assertions’ ISO 8217:2017 does not encompass 0.50% sulphur marine fuel oils.

Published

6 years ago

July 18, 2018

Admin

The following statement written by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) addresses its position on 0.50% sulphur marine fuel oils, while introducing a Publicly Available Specification, a test program to investigate whether current test methods for marine fuel stability are enough, and the development of a guidance for crew and ship operators for safe onboard handling of future 0.50 % S max. fuel oil blends:

Lately, several assertions have been made that ISO 8217:2017 does not encompass future max. 0.50% sulphur marine fuel oils and these to potentially cause severe safety issues. As these claims create quite some anxiety in the industry, the ISO working group, whilst respecting the anxiety raised, would like to reassure the industry that the General requirements of ISO 8217:2017 along with the characteristics included in Table 1 and 2 of ISO 8217: 2017 cover 2020 0.50% max. sulphur fuels in the same way as they cover today’s fuels including the 0.10% max. sulphur fuels. ISO 8217 reflects on the technical requirements for machinery operations and considers the aspects of safety, environment, onboard handling (storage and cleaning) and combustion of not only today’s fuels but also of the anticipated 0.50% max. sulphur fuels of 2020, irrespective of the sulphur content of the fuel oils.

Flashpoint (in accordance with SOLAS requirements), stability and cold flow are key fuel characteristics that must be addressed for all fuel oils delivered. The limits of these characteristics as set down in the ordering specification given by the purchaser, which should reference the ISO 8217 specification, when not met, may indeed result in operational problems with possible safety implications in the severest of cases.

There is a specific concern on the fuel oil blends as modelled by CE Delft in the IMO fuel oil availability study, containing H-oil bottoms and the potential risk of obtaining unstable fuels if not properly blended. As with today’s fuels, all marine fuels delivered to ships shall be stable and meet the ISO 8217 total sediment potential requirement of 0.10 % maximum, which provides the criteria to be met for fuel oil stability.

The consequences of fuel instability such as filter clogging and centrifuges blocking are well-known and it is to be expected that fuel oil blenders and suppliers must take careful note of these consequences ensuring this fuel characteristic is not overlooked and that the fuel is delivered to the ship as a homogenous and stable product.

Also, as fuel oil blend formulations are expected to vary widely across the regions ships will, as they do today, have to consider the risk of incompatibility when using consecutive fuels from different ports and regions. Compatibility between different fuels cannot be guaranteed by the suppliers and it falls on the competency of the crew to manage this. Recognising that some degree of mixing of different fuel oils onboard the ship cannot be avoided, many ships today have already procedures in place to minimise commingling of fuel oils with bunker segregation being always the first option and are encouraged to evaluate further their segregation policy.

The ISO 8217 working group has initiated the development of a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) “Considerations for fuel suppliers and users regarding marine fuel quality in view of the implementation of maximum 0.50 % S in 2020” in response to the IMO request to consider the framework of ISO 8217 with a view to ensuring consistency between the relevant ISO standards on marine fuel oils and the implementation of the 0.50 % S max. limit. Given that these 0.50% max. sulphur fuel oils will be fully capable of being categorised within the existing ISO 8217 standard, the PAS will provide guidance as to the application of the existing ISO 8217 standard to such fuel oils. Furthermore, at this time no new characteristic is currently being considered for inclusion.

Regarding the stability of fuel oils, ISO 8217 working group has initiated a test program to investigate whether test methods currently not yet widely used for marine fuel stability testing, can provide further and consistent information on the stability and potential instability of a wide range of different fuel blend formulations (or mixtures thereof) that are anticipated to likely represent what will be available in the market from late 2019.

The ISO 8217 working group is also working closely with CIMAC and will contribute to the initiative taken by OCIMF and IPIECA to develop a guidance document to bring awareness to, and to assist crew and ship operators in the safe onboard handling of future 0.50 % S max. fuel oil blends, considering their potential impact on operational aspects.

Although concern has been raised that the 0.50% max. sulphur fuels will only be introduced later in 2019, it is clear from the fuel testing agency statistics that the share of 0.50% max. sulphur fuels in the market is already growing, all of which are meeting the requirements of ISO 8217.

Photo credit: International Maritime Organization
Published: 18 July, 2018

Port & Regulatory

MPA informs Singapore shipping community of resolutions adopted at MEPC 82

MEPC 82 was held from 30 September 2024 to 04 October 2024; MPA urges the shipping community to prepare for the implementation of the resolutions.

Published

2 weeks ago

December 30, 2024

Admin

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Saturday (28 December) issued Shipping Circular No. 18 of 2024 informing shipowners, ship managers, operators, agents and masters of Singapore-registered ships of resolutions adopted at 82nd session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 82).

MEPC 82 was held from 30 September 2024 to 04 October 2024; MPA urges the shipping community to prepare for the implementation of these resolutions:

Resolution MEPC.392(82) – Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI (Designation of the Canadian Arctic and the Norwegian Sea as Emission Control Areas for Nitrogen Oxides, Sulphur Oxides and
Particulate Matter, as appropriate).

This resolution adopts amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocols of 1978 and 1997 relating thereto (MARPOL), Annex VI, to designate the Canadian Arctic and the Norwegian Sea as Emission Control Areas (ECA)
for Nitrogen Oxides, Sulphur Oxides and Particulate Matter. The amendments will enter into force on 01 March 2026 and will be given effect through amendments to the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Air Pollution) Regulations 2022.

The Canadian Arctic ECA will be applicable to ships constructed on or after 01 January 2025, while the Norwegian Sea ECA will be applicable to ships constructed on or after 01 March 2026, including a “three dates criteria” of date of building contract; keel laying date; and delivery date, to be reflected
as amendments to the Supplement to International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate (IAPP Certificate).

Resolution MEPC.393(82) – Guidance On Best Practice On Recommendatory Goal-Based Control Measures To Reduce The Impact On The Arctic Of Black Carbon Emissions From International
Shipping

This resolution adopts Guidance on best practice on recommendatory goal-based control measures to reduce the impact on the Arctic of Black Carbon emissions from international shipping. It is intended to assist ship operators/companies in their efforts to reduce Black Carbon emissions from
their ships operating in or near the Arctic in measurable and concrete ways.

Resolution MEPC.394(82) – Guidelines On Recommendatory Black Carbon Emission Measurement, Monitoring And Reporting

This resolution adopts Guidelines on recommendatory Black Carbon emission measurement, monitoring and reporting. It specifies recommendations for the measurement, monitoring and reporting of Black Carbon emissions data from marine diesel engines or exhaust gas treatment
systems, in combination or individually, to enhance development of recommendations and regulations to reduce the impact on the Arctic of Black Carbon emissions.

Resolution MEPC.395(82) – 2024 Guidelines For The Development Of A Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP)

This resolution adopts the 2024 Guidelines for the development of a SEEMP to have a more consistent methodology for fuel oil reporting, taking into account the data collected in the IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumption Database (IMO DCS) thus far. This resolution revokes Resolution MEPC.346(78).

Resolution MEPC.396(82) – Designation Of The Nusa Penida Islands And Gili Matra Islands In Lombok Strait As A Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA)

This resolution designates the Nusa Penida Islands and Gili Matra Islands in Lombok Strait as a PSSA, with the Associated Protective Measures (APMs) being the previously established Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) which entered into force on 01 July 2019.

Editor’s note: The full Shipping Circular No. 18 of 2024 document may be obtained from MPA’s official website here.

Photo credit: Manifold Times
Published: 30 December 2024

Port & Regulatory

Philippines to mandate 0.50% sulphur cap for domestic shipping industry in 2025

Domestic shipping firms may extend the compliance deadline based on the Ship-specific implementation Plan timelines, but not exceeding five years.

Published

2 weeks ago

December 30, 2024

Admin

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) of the Republic of the Philippines will be implementing a 0.50% sulphur cap for bunker fuel consumed by the country’s domestic shipping industry effective 1 January 2025, it said.

MARINA Advisory No. 2024-35, published on 22 October 2024, provided supplemental guidelines on the implementation, monitoring and enforcement of MARINA Circular No. SR-2020-06 “Rules and Regulations on the Mandatory Use of 0.50% M/M Sulphur Limit on Fuel Oil for all Philippine Registered Ships in Compliance to Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78, as amended”.

MARINA MC No. SR2020-06 specifically covers ships which are utilising heavy sulphur fuel oil and are therefore mandated to shift to fuel oil with low sulphur content of .50% in/in or below, effective 01 January 2025, noted the advisory.

Ships which are already using Distillates (MGO, MDO, IDO) or bIends may shift to fuel oil with .50% mass/mass sulphur content and are required to accomplish a Ship-specific implementation Plan (SIP) to be attached to the Ship's SMS Manual.

The Administration, meanwhile, noted domestic shipping firms may extend the compliance deadline based on the SIP timelines as verified by MARINA, but not to exceed five (5) years.

No extension of deadline shall be allowed if there is no SIP submitted by 01 July 2024.

Editor’s note: The complete MARINA Advisory No. 2024-35 document may be obtained from the official MARINE website here.

Photo credit: Maritime Industry Authority
Published: 30 December 2024

Port & Regulatory

Singapore: MPA revises Maritime Singapore Green Initiative to align with IMO targets

Existing incentives for harbour craft under GPP will be subsumed under a new Green Craft Programme (GCP).

Published

3 weeks ago

December 27, 2024

Admin

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Tuesday (24 December) revised the Maritime Singapore Green Initiative (MSGI) to better align with the targets established by the
International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Under the revised MSGI, with effect from 1 January 2025, the current Green Port Programme (GPP) will be integrated under the enhanced Green Ship Programme (GSP) – Green Port. The existing incentives for harbour craft under GPP will be subsumed under a new Green Craft Programme (GCP).

[For Ocean-Going Vessels] Key Enhancements to the GSP – Green Port

The enhanced GSP - Green Port will continue to incentivise ocean-going vessels calling at the Port of Singapore for port stays of 4 days or less – with vessels meeting either of the following criteria:

Use of zero-emission fuel/technology (e.g. hydrogen, full electrification,
hybrid of hydrogen fuel cell and electrification etc.)
Ocean-going vessels that use zero-emission fuel/technologies as its primary fuel
or propulsion means will enjoy 100% concession off the port dues for eligible vessel
call.
Use of zero-carbon fuel (e.g. ammonia with pilot fuel capped at 25% with
ammonia slip/NOx/N2O addressed, B100 biofuel, green methanol etc.)
Ocean-going vessels that use zero-carbon fuels will enjoy 100% concession off the
port dues for eligible vessel call.
Use of low-carbon content fuels with CF value1 ≤ 1.375 (e.g. Methanol), or
using LNG in engine with methane slip addressed to max 1%, or biofuels B50
and above up to B99.
Ocean-going vessels that use relevant low-carbon content fuel as its primary fuel
will enjoy 30% concession off the port dues for eligible vessel call.
Test Use of low carbon content fuels with 1.375 < CF value ≤ 2.750, e.g. LNG (in
engine without methane slip addressed), or biofuels B24 and above up to
B49.
Ocean-going vessels that use relevant low-carbon content fuel as its primary fuel
will enjoy 20% concession off the port dues for eligible vessel call.

To participate in the GSP - Green Port, shipowners or charterers should ensure that
their vessels are pre-registered under the GSP – Green Port via digitalPORT@SGTM prior to
arrival at the Port of Singapore.

Editor’s note: The full announcement may be obtained from the official MPA website under Port Marine Circular No. 13 of 2024 here.

Photo credit: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Published: 27 December 2024