The Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) on Tuesday (31 December) has announced that Jamaica is ready to ensure that IMO 2020 compliant fuel is in use or that ships are equipped with mechanisms such as scrubbers to regulate the sulphur emission content for compliance with the 0.5% requirement.
“On both counts, the local bunker suppliers, including Petrojam, have indicated that Jamaica is ready,” said Director of Legal Affairs at the Maritime Authority of Jamaica, Bertrand Smith.
Smith explained the main requirements for Jamaica to ensure compliance with IMO 2020 are fuel availability and fuel quality assurance.
He noted that suppliers have already imported fuel that meets the specifications of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).
In some cases, he also noted that blending of the fuel will take place to meet the requirements.
“Petrojam supplies marine oil at 0.5 per cent sulphur directly to customers, Ready to Work (RTW) Oil at all ports in Jamaica, intermediate fuel oil, ultra-low sulphur diesel at 15 parts per million and low sulphur to bunkering companies for sale to vessels,” said Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Hon. Fayval Williams.
“The Government of Jamaica has, through the MAJ, in collaboration with stakeholders, implemented measures to support the compliance and enforcement of the Sulphur Cap by ships calling at our ports and Jamaican ships trading worldwide,” said Minister of Transport and Mining, Hon. Robert Montague.
“The Ministry of Transport and Mining takes its responsibility to uphold standards seriously. In this regard we are well advanced in our undertaking to implement the MARPOL Convention…”
“It will provide for the licensing of bunkering operators and their vessels, which will ensure that the highest levels of safety and the protection of the maritime environment of Jamaica are achieved in the carriage and transfer of fuel within our waters.”
“We are, therefore, confident that we will be able to provide compliant fuel and regulate the sector to ensure the expected benefits of the regulations in terms of the reductions in toxic emissions while protecting the marine environment and the persons who work in the industry.”
Published: 3 January, 2020
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