The 74th session of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 74) approved amendments MARPOL Annex VI related to verification procedures to determine whether the fuel oil delivered to, in-use or carried for use on board a ship is in accordance with the applicable sulphur limit of regulation 14 of… …more…
Scrubber malfunctions addressed in IMO guidelines ahead of 2020
A review of the 2015 Guidelines on Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS) is underway at the International Maritime Organization. The guidelines include, among other things, washwater discharge standards, but with all the controversy surrounding washwater discharges into the sea, there is still work to do. Elements of the guidelines relating… …more…
Sampling points for fuel oil in use on ships becoming mandatory
It will become mandatory under MARPOL Annex VI for ships to have sampling point(s) to be fitted or designated for the purpose of taking representative samples of the fuel oil being used on board the ship. This was approved as an amendment to the regulation at the 74th session of… …more…
Specifications for 0.50% sulphur fuels and the PAS from ISO: IBIA explains
IBIA has been getting queries from several members about when ISO specifications for fuels meeting the 0.50% sulphur limit will be available. Every time, IBIA has explained that: Existing ISO 8217 specifications will still apply, and; the Publicly Available Specification (PAS 23263) from ISO would not introduce any new specifications… …more…
IBIA and S&P Global Platts Collaborate to Help Shipping Industry Comply with IMO 2020
The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) and S&P Global Platts, the leading independent provider of information and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets, have agreed on a collaboration agreement to help market participants across the shipping ecosystem prepare ahead of the implementation of the International Maritime Organization (IMO)… …more…
Joint Industry Guidance on the supply and use of 0.50% – sulphur marine fuel
A number of shipping, refining, fuel supply and standards organisations have worked together to produce Joint Industry Guidance on the supply and use of 0.50% – sulphur marine fuel released on 20 August 2019. The publication has been developed by experts from across shipping, refining, supply and testing of marine… …more…
IMO in bid to improve reporting on fuel oil quality and availability
The IMO has agreed to update the MARPOL Annex VI module in its global shipping information system (GISIS) in a bid to improve the ability to accurately collect and analyse data concerning fuel oil quality and non-availability of compliant fuel oils. It follows discussions at the 74th session of the… …more…
IMO considers licensing scheme for bunker suppliers
As pressure continues for more regulation of the supply side, a proposal from several shipping organisations to make bunker licensing schemes mandatory under MARPOL Annex VI was rejected at the 74th session of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 74), but it agreed to consider a template for voluntary… …more…
IMO guidelines for consistent implementation of the 0.50% sulphur limit: an overview
Shipowners, ship operators, bunker suppliers and other interested groups are encouraged to make use of guidelines developed by the IMO relating to the 0.50% sulphur limit taking effect on 1 January 2020. These comprehensive guidelines include a template for a “Fuel Oil Non-Availability Report (FONAR)” and an appendix on the… …more…
Guidance for best practice for Member State/coastal States adopted by MEPC 74
Following the adoption of Guidance on best practice for Member States/coastal States, the IMO now has a trinity of best practice documents aimed at key stakeholders affected by fuel quality issues under MARPOL Annex VI. The latest in the series is intended to assist Member States in carrying out their… …more…
