The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted an amendment to support consistent implementation of the forthcoming 0.50% limit on sulfur in ships’ fuel oil, and approved guidance on ship implementation planning.
Adopted on October 26, 2018 by the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 73) is a complementary International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) amendment that will prohibit the carriage of non-compliant fuel oil for combustion purposes for propulsion or operation on board a ship—unless the ship has an exhaust gas cleaning system (scrubber) fitted, IMO said in a statement.
“Installing a scrubber is accepted by flag States as an alternative means to meet the sulphur limit requirement,” said IMO.
The complementary amendment is expected to enter into force on March 1, 2020.
The amendment does not change in any way the entry into force date of the 0.50% limit from January 1, 2020, IMO clarified. “It is intended as an additional measure to support consistent implementation and compliance and provide a means for effective enforcement by States, particularly port State control.”
To assist ship operators and owners to plan ahead for the 0.50% sulfur 2020 limit, the MEPC also approved guidance on ship implementation planning. The guidance is part of a set of guidelines being developed by IMO for consistent implementation of the MARPOL regulation coming into effect from January 1, 2020.
The ship implementation planning guidance includes sections on risk assessment and mitigation plan (impact of new fuels); fuel oil system modifications and tank cleaning (if needed); fuel oil capacity and segregation capability; procurement of compliant fuel; fuel oil changeover plan (conventional residual fuel oils to 0.50% sulfur compliant fuel oil); and documentation and reporting.
The MEPC also approved guidance on best practice for fuel oil suppliers. The guidance is intended to assist fuel oil purchasers and users in assuring the quality of fuel oil delivered to and used on board ships as they work to both comply with the MARPOL requirements and ensure the safe and efficient operation of the ship. The guidance pertains to aspects of the fuel oil purchase up to the loading of the purchased fuel oil on board.
The new lower 0.50% limit on sulfur in ships’ fuel oil will bring benefits to the environment and human health, said IMO.
A study on the human health impacts of sulfur oxides (SOx) emissions from ships, submitted to IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in 2016, estimated that by not reducing the SOx limit for ships from 2020, the air pollution from ships would contribute to more than 570,000 additional premature deaths worldwide between 2020 and 2025.
So a reduction in the limit for sulfur in fuel oil used on board ships will have tangible health benefits, particularly for populations living close to ports and major shipping routes.
The new limit will be applicable globally, while in designated emission control areas the limit will remain even lower, at 0.10%.
The January 1, 2020 implementation date was adopted in 2008 and confirmed by IMO in October 2016, giving certainty to refineries, bunkering, and shipping sectors.
Photo: Xtrememachineuk
