Ireland
As Ireland is a member of the European Union, Directive(EU) 2016/802 applies and a maximum of 0.10% sulphur fuel is to be used in port. Irish waters are not in a Emission Control Area defined by MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14 and therefore the global limit of 3.50% sulphur applies to vessels except some passenger ships until January 1, 2020, when the limit will be reduced to 0.50%. Passenger ships on regular voyages between EU ports (e.g. UK-Ireland ferries) are an exception, as subject to a limit of 1.50%S until January 1, 2020 under the EU Sulphur Directive.
A number of Irish ports have prohibited overboard discharges from exhaust gas cleaning systems to waters within their jurisdiction, citing the EU’s Water Framework Directive, 2000/60/EC and Environmental Quality Standards Directive, 2008/105/EC as the rationale:
.
- Dublin. Click for a copy of Notice to Mariners 21 of 2019. Check the Dublin Port Company website for further information & any updates
- Waterford. Click for a copy of Notice to Mariners 01 of 2019. See the Port of Waterford website and port bye-laws for further information, including port limits & any updates
- Cork. Click for a copy of Notice to Mariners 15 of 2018. See the Port of Cork website for the port information manual, notices to mariners, & any updates
Ship operators should check if other Irish ports are similarly regulated.
