PPR 10 rejects proposals to amend IMO guidelines for in-use MARPOL samples

Proposals to amend the IMO’s 2019 Guidelines for On Board Sampling for the Verification of the Sulphur Content of the Fuel Oil Used onboard Ships (MEPC.1/Circ.864/Rev.1) were considered and deemed unnecessary during an IMO meeting last week.

The guidelines provide advice on how to obtain samples of fuels actually in use onboard ships in order to verify their sulphur content.

Two proposals were submitted to the 10th session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 10) which took place during last week (April 24-28).

One proposal was to establish a protocol for the emergency generator fuel oil tank sampling point. That was deemed unnecessary because fuel for emergency generator will be distillate fuel grades (DMA or DMX gas oil) that typically have sulphur content below 0.10% and it was unlikely that port State control officers would need to take in-use samples from emergency generators.

The other proposal aimed to address sampling of fuels with potentially poor cold flow properties when navigating in cold regions, and to provide specifications for Administrations on sample handling and size.

In response to that proposal, several delegations highlighted that drawing in-use samples for sulphur verification in cold climates was not an issue because in-use samples should be drawn downstream of the in-use fuel oil service tank, at which stage the fuel is heated and flowing well. They also felt the sample size could be determined by the inspector using professional competence in consultation with analysing laboratories.

The proposals therefor did not receive adequate support to be moved forward, as there were no practical or operational reasons to take them onboard. In essence, the sub-committee saw no need for amending existing guidelines for taking on board samples of the fuel in use, and agreed to keep the Guidelines unchanged.