Lloyd’s Register Fuel Oil Bunkering Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) on Wednesday (24 June) published a bulletin to provide ship operators with an updated reminder of marine fuel oil sulphur regulations under various regulatory frameworks: 

MARPOL Annex VI

Ships operating inside or outside Emission Control Areas (ECA) for Sulphur Oxides (SOx) i.e., ECA-SOx, are

required to comply with specific sulphur limits in respect of the fuel oils as used unless the particular

combustion systems (engine, boiler, other) in use have in operation an approved exhaust gas cleaning system as per MARPOL Annex VI regulation 4. These fuel oil limits are as follows;

• Inside ECA-SOx: Max sulphur content of 0.10% m/m
• Outside ECA-SOx: Max sulphur content of 0.50% m/m

MARPOL Annex VI regulation 14.3 currently gives the following as ECA-SOx together with the respective geographic limits:

• Baltic Sea;
• North Sea;
• North American (which includes an area around the Hawaiian Islands);
• US Caribbean Sea;
• Mediterranean Sea;
• Canadian Arctic; and
• Norwegian Sea

Additionally, MEPC 84 adopted the North-East Atlantic as an ECA-SOx which will come into effect from 1 September 2028.

European initiatives

For EU, UK, and Turkish ports situated outside ECA-SOx, ships must switchover to a fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 0.10% m/m when at berth. Similarly, Norway and Iceland have also 0.10% m/m requirements for ships at berth and operating in Fjords (territorial / internal waters).

Other initiatives

Due to increasing concerns around the environmental impact from shipping on local air quality, there are a number of national and local regulations which require the use of low sulphur fuel oils, typically maximum sulphur content 0.10% m/m, or other measures by all or certain ships within defined areas. Examples of these are China, California (CARB), South Korea and Sydney. Furthermore, there can be other related restrictions, for example, on the discharges to sea from exhaust gas cleaning systems.

However, whereas with the MARPOL Annex VI ECA-SOx, there is a single point of reference as to which areas are covered, there is no such central registry for these regional, national or local initiatives taken outside MARPOL Annex VI. Consequently, in all the cases, it is important for ships to check with the relevant authorities beforehand in order to confirm the current status as regards SOx and related emission requirements in order to avoid any penalties – which can be substantial.

Photo credit: Louis Reed from Unsplash
Published: 25 June, 2026

US oil major ExxonMobil on Tuesday (23 June) said it has successfully supplied a B30 0.50% sulphur marine residual fuel blend (B30 VLSFO), made using fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) Distillation Residue, to Wallenius Wilhelmsen. 

The bio marine fuel blend was bunkered by the vehicle carrier Titus in Zeebrugge ahead of the sea trial, marking a significant milestone in ExxonMobil’s journey towards supplying the marine industry with lower GHG emission fuels. 

The B30 VLSFO fuel meets the RMG380 residual fuel oil classification and complies with ISO 8217:2017 with the exception of the bio blend component. It shares similar drop-in properties to a B30 VLSFO made with FAME produced from used cooking oil (UCOME). 

The fuel has the potential to reduce lifecycle GHG emissions compared to conventional fuels. 

Importantly, marine fuels made with FAME Distillation Residue have a major advantage over FAME itself, as there is currently no competition for this material from other transport sectors. 

Additionally, when compared to FAME in VLSFO blends, several key properties of the FAME Distillation Residue are closer to the VLSFO component, such as density and viscosity. This is beneficial as users will see a lower reduction in viscosity than that of a FAME in VLSFO blend, which makes it comparatively easier to handle onboard ships. Further, extensive lab testing has shown good compatibility between petroleum-based VLSFOs and this B30 VLSFO made with FAME Distillation Residue. 

The sea trial was successfully completed with no operational concerns. The B30 VLSFO batch was bunkered without issue. The onboard storage and handling of B30 VLSFO did not result in any filtration or purification issues. Engine performance remained stable, as confirmed by comparing key parameters recorded in the performance and condition monitoring reports before, during and after the trial. 

“This successful sea trial highlights a practical, cost-effective pathway for customers to reduce their lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining operational performance. By leveraging FAME Distillation Residue, ExxonMobil can offer a drop-in solution that supports compliance with evolving EU regulations and helps operators advance their lower GHG emission goals confidence,” said Gideon Simmelink, Account Manager Marine Fuels, ExxonMobil. 

“Wallenius Wilhelmsen has a long-standing collaboration with ExxonMobil. This trial supports our efforts to assess new fuel options and advance our decarbonization ambitions,” said Kari Haugen, Senior Manager Energy Sourcing, Wallenius Wilhelmsen. 

Subject to regional availability, ExxonMobil offers a range of bio marine fuel blends (Bio VLSFO, Bio ULSFO, Bio MGO and Bio HSFO), which we have supplied into the ARA (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp) region (VLSFO and USLFO), the UK (MGO and HSFO) and Singapore (VLSFO). 

These solutions are designed to help meet the diverse needs of the shipping industry while helping support GHG emission reductions. Always consult with engine manufacturers as OEMs may limit bio blend percentages or specific bio components for certain engine designs.

Photo credit: ExxonMobil
Published: 25 June, 2026

Ship operator G2 Ocean on Wednesday (24 June) said it has launched Emission Reduction Certificates, a new service enabling customers to reduce emissions associated with their transportation services.

The service allows cargo owners and transport buyers to reduce their emissions from transportation by purchasing verified emission reductions generated from the use of biofuel in G2 Ocean’s operations.

The service is available to any company with emissions from transportation (Scope 3). It does not require cargo to be transported on specific low-emission G2 Ocean voyages.

For most companies, emissions from shipping are classified as indirect emissions (Scope 3) and sit outside their direct control. Reducing these emissions requires collaboration across the value chain.

Emission Reduction Certificates use a book-and-claim model, enabling customers to invest in emission reductions linked directly to maritime transport and to account for them in their climate reporting. The revenue will be reinvested in new biofuel voyages, helping create a cost-sharing model for biofuel and narrowing the gap between biofuel and regular fuel.

“Supply chain decarbonisation requires practical solutions. With our new service, Emission Reduction Certificates, customers can take immediate action to reduce their transport emissions while supporting the increased use of lower-emission fuels,” says Arthur English, Chief Executive Officer at G2 Ocean.

The emission reductions come from the use of certified biofuels on G2 Ocean voyages. They are verified and documented before being issued as digital certificates in a blockchain-connected registry. This registry tracks ownership and establishes a clear chain of custody for each certificate, ensuring that every certificate is unique and not double-counted or double-claimed.

“The certificates can be purchased and used by any company with emissions from transportation. The verified reductions are supported by audit documentation that enables credible climate reporting and emission accounting,” says Sigrid Bakken, ESG and Communications Director at G2 Ocean.

This ensures transparency, traceability and safeguards against double counting, providing customers with credible claims for decision-making, reporting and stakeholder communication.

Photo credit: G2 Ocean
Published: 25 June, 2026