Update – 23 October 2019

“Announcement of the Maritime Safety Administration of the People’s Republic of China on the Implementation Plan for the 2020 Global Marine Fuel Sulfur Limits”

Requirements for compliance with the 2020 sulphur cap in Chinese waters can be found in Chinese language at:
http://www.msa.gov.cn/html/xxgk/tzgg/wgfw/20191025/7917B172-1CB6-421E-881C-25E5D00001B3.html (copy link into browser)

Click here for a Google translation

Key point:

First section (1) 4. “From January 1, 2020, ships are not allowed to discharge the open-type exhaust gas cleaning system washing water in the ship’s air pollutant emission control zone of China. “

Update – January 2019

Following the implementation of the 0.5% fuel sulphur limit on January 1, 2019 the Maritime Safety Administration of P.R. China has issued a notice to all MSA’s  directly under its control, giving further clarification of requirements for the  emission control areas. The relevant sections on SOx control are highlighted in the attached document (click to download)

Key points:

– It is prohibited to discharge into Inland River ECAs, waters of ports in Coastal ECAs and Bohai sea waters the wash water generated from open loop exhaust gas cleaning.
– Requirements for prohibiting the discharge into waters within other coastal ECAs the wash water generated from open loop exhaust gas cleaning will be promulgated in due course.
– In general the requirements of MEPC.259(68), 2015 Guidelines for Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems must be followed in terms of monitoring emissions to air from Scheme B approved scrubbers, discharges to water, and storage and disposal of residues.
– Further details of inspections that can be expected are given in Supervision and Administration Guidelines on Ship Air Pollutants Emission Control Area sections 5.1.3 and 5.2.1.

Update – 30 November 2018

The Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China has published a notice on the “Implementation Scheme of the Domestic Emission Control Areas for Atmospheric Pollution from Vessels“. This is based on China’s national air pollution regulations, applicable international conventions (MARPOL Annex VI) and the previous Implementation Scheme of the Domestic Emission Control Areas for Vessels in the Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Delta and the Bohai-Rim Area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei).

The scheme covers SOx, NOx, particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in coastal and inland river control areas, collectively known as DECAs. The coastal area boundaries are shown on EGCSA’s Global Marine Emissions Regulation Map. (Click for coordinates)

Key points
– From 1 January 2019, the sulphur content of any fuel oil used on board sea-going vessels should not exceed 0.5% m/m.

– From 1 January 2020, the sulphur content of fuel oil used on board sea-going vessels should not exceed 0.1% m/m when operating in the inland river emission control area. (The scheme also encourages local governments to develop alternative requirements on fuel sulphur content for sea-going vessels operating in inland rivers taking into account the emission control requirements in these areas.)

– From 1 March 2020, vessels not using alternative methods of compliance should only be loaded use the fuel oil required under the scheme when operating in the DECAs

– From 1 January 2022, the sulphur content of any fuel oil used on board sea-going vessels should not exceed 0.1% m/m when operating in the coastal emission control area in Hainan waters.

– A feasibility study will be conducted in due course, to inform the decision on implementation of a 0.1% m/m sulphur cap for sea-going vessels operating in the DECAs on and after 1 January 2025.

– Exhaust gas cleaning systems can be used by vessels as an alternative method of compliance. Discharge monitoring and control systems should be installed and any wastes and discharges should be treated according to the applicable regulations.

– The Scheme also requires that provincial administration is strengthened to improve supervision and enforcement.

This information is for overview purposes only – ship operators are strongly recommended to contact the relevant Maritime Administrations to confirm details and exact requirements

Update – June 2018

China’s Ministry of Transport has released a draft for comment of new Emission Control Area co-ordinates for the coast and updated SOx, NOx and VOC emission control requirements, which are available at this link (note only the ECA co-ordinates are in English).

A translation with a summary of  the updates can be downloaded here.

Effective Jan 1^st 2019, vessels should use fuel with a sulphur content of no more than 0.5% m/m when sailing in the ECA and when alongside.

Effective Jan 1^st 2020, vessels should use fuel with a sulphur content no more than 0.5% m/m when sailing in the ECA and no more than 0.1% m/m when alongside. However in Hainan Province waters, vessels should use fuel with a sulphur content of no more than 0.1% m/m when sailing and when alongside.

Alternatively Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems can be used, subject to the relevant regulations.

This information is for overview purposes only – ship operators are strongly recommended to contact the relevant Maritime Administrations to confirm details and exact requirements

Update – September 2017

Several Chinese local authorities have announced earlier implementation of the emission control measures.

Within the Yangtze River Delta ECA, the implementation of the 0.5%m/m sulphur limit began on April 1, 2016, applying to ships at berth in the core ports of Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Suzhou and Nantong ports

Within the Pearl River Delta ECA, ships were required to use fuel that does not exceed 0.5%m/m sulphur content while at berth in Shenzhen port (including Yantian, Shekou, Chiwan, Mawan, Dachan Bay) as of October 1, 2016.

The latest notifications of early implementation have been announced by the Maritime Safety Administrations of Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces. As of September 1, 2017, ships are required to use fuel with sulfur content of 0.5%m/m or less at berth in all ports within the ECA’s of Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces, which are both part of the Yangtze River Delta ECA.

July 2016

The Maritime Safety Administration of the People’s Republic of China (MSA) has published an ‘Implementation Plan on Domestic Emission Control Areas in Waters of the Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Delta and Bohai Rim (Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei)’. The document, which includes maps is available to download here.

The plan requires ships to meet international conventions and the domestic regulations of China in terms of controlling SOx, NOx and PM emissions to air.

There is also a progressive reduction in allowable fuel sulphur in the 3 DECA’s.

The use of fuel with a sulphur content exceeding 0.50% m/m is prohibited for vessels berthed at any of the ‘core ports’ on and after 1st January 2017, excluding the first hour after arrival and last hour before departure.

Ship operators do however need to remain watchful, as the sulphur limits have been implemented ahead of schedule in a number of ports including ports not designated as core (see updates).

The core ports named within each DECA are:

Pearl River Delta – Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Zhuhai
Yangtze River Delta- Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Suzhou and Nantong
Bohai Rim- Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Tangshan and Huanghua.

This will be extended to ships at berth in all ports within the DECA’s from 1st January 2018 and then to all ships entering the DECA’s from 1st January 2019.

Alternatively, scrubbers are allowed as a means of providing an equivalent level of SOx emission control.

A further assessment will be undertaken before end 2019 to decide if the fuel sulphur limit should be reduced to 0.10% m/m, whether the geographical limits of the DECA’s should be extended or if other control measures should be introduced.