– carriage ban enters into force
Consistent implementation of the IMO 2020 regulation which
limits sulphur in ships fuel oil is enhanced from 1 March
2020, with the entry into force of a rule to ban the carriage of
non-compliant fuel oil.
The IMO 2020 regulation limits sulphur in ships’ fuel oil to
a maximum 0.50%. The regulation has been in force globally
since 1 January 2020, under IMO’s MARPOL treaty, with benefits
for the environment and human health from a reduction in sulphur
oxides in the air.
The complementary International Convention for the Prevention
of Pollution form ships (MARPOL) amendment prohibits
the carriage of non-compliant fuel oil for combustion purposes
for propulsion or operation on board a ship – unless the ship
has an approved exhaust gas cleaning system (“scrubber”) fitted.
The amendment does not change in any way the 0.50%
limit which has been in force since 1 January 2020. 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.
In designated emission control areas, the maximum sulphur
limit in fuel oil is 0.10 % (the four ECAs are: the Baltic Sea area;
the North Sea area; the North American area (covering designated
coastal areas off the United States and Canada); and the United
States Caribbean Sea area (around Puerto Rico and the United
States Virgin Islands).
