A draft bill on the global limit for sulphur in fuel oil used by ships has been recently prepared and proposed to the Cabinet for approval.
Jointly drafted by the Department of Environment and Ports and Maritime Organization, the bill involves the limit that the International Maritime Organization recently set for the level of sulfur in ship fuel oil, DOE’s official website reported.
The IMO’s new regulation, which will reduce the current global limit for sulfur content of ships’ fuel oil from 3.50% mass by mass (m/m) to 0.50%, is set to take effect as of January 1, 2020.
The due date is the IMO’s deadline for all nations to adjust to the new regulations.
Question of Costs
“The DOE has done its duty but its approval and enforcement depend on collaboration by the Oil Ministry as applying the limitations would be costly,” Parvin Farshchi, deputy for marine tourism at DOE said.
Answering the query on whether those countries not adhering to IMO rules will be fined, the official noted that the implementation is not obligatory for all nations and no fine is defined for those reluctant.
“However, those countries not abiding by the regulations will definitely face restrictions in inter-state shipping, since it will be added to the set of factors required for obtaining a shipping license,” she said.
“Regarding the huge marine traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf in southern Iran, implementation of the rule would significantly reduce the amount of sulfur oxide emanating from ships in the waters,” Farshchi added.
Furthermore, it brings major health and environmental dividends for the world, particularly for populations living close to ports and coasts.
New Rule in Detail
IMO has been working to reduce harmful impacts of shipping on the environment since the 1960s.
The regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships (Annex VI) seek to control airborne emissions from ships (sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, ozone depleting substances, volatile organic compounds and shipboard incineration) and their contribution to local and global air pollution, human health issues and environmental problems.
According to the new law, ships taking on fuel oil for use on board must obtain a bunker delivery note, which states the sulfur content of the fuel oil supplied, IMO’s official website reported.
In addition, samples may be taken for verification. Ships must be issued with an International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate by their flag state. This certificate includes a section stating that the ship uses fuel oil with a sulfur content that does not exceed the applicable limit value as documented by bunker delivery notes or uses an approved equivalent arrangement.
Port and coastal states can use port state control to verify that the ship is compliant. They could also use surveillance, for example air surveillance to assess smoke plumes, and other techniques to identify potential violations.
