This abridged extract is from MARPOL Annex VI and NTC 2008 with Guidelines for Implementation – 2017 Edition. It is for overview purposes only – ship operators are strongly recommended to confirm the latest MARPOL regulations by visiting IMO Publications at http://www.imo.org/Publications/Pages/Home.aspx. IMO publications are available as e-books or in hard copy.
As an alternative to the sulphur-in-fuel limits shown below approved Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems can be used.
(See MARPOL Annex VI – Compliance by ECGS and MARPOL Annex VI – Regulation 4)
Regulation 14 general requirements
1 The sulphur content of any fuel oil used on board ships shall not exceed the following limits:
.1 4.50% m/m prior to 1 January 2012;
.2 3.50% m/m on and after 1 January 2012; and
.3 0.50% m/m on and after 1 January 2020.
2 The worldwide average sulphur content of residual fuel oil supplied for use on board ships shall be monitored taking into account guidelines developed by the Organization.*
Requirements within emission control areas
3 For the purpose of this regulation, emission control areas shall include:
.1 the Baltic Sea area as defined in regulation 1.11.2 of Annex I and the North Sea as defined in regulation 1.14.6 of Annex V;
.2 the North American area as described by the coordinates provided in appendix VII to this Annex;
.3 the United States Caribbean Sea area as described by the coordinates provided in appendix VII to this Annex; and
.4 any other sea area, including any port area, designated by the Organization in accordance with the criteria and procedures set forth in appendix III to this Annex.
4 While ships are operating within an emission control area, the sulphur content of fuel oil used on board ships shall not exceed the following limits:
.1 1.50% m/m prior to 1 July 2010;
.2 1.00% m/m on and after 1 July 2010; and
.3 0.10% m/m on and after 1 January 2015.
.4 Prior to 1 January 2020, the sulphur content of fuel oil referred to in paragraph 4 of this regulation shall not apply to ships operating in the North American area or the United States Caribbean Sea area defined in paragraph 3, built on or before 1 August 2011 that are powered by propulsion boilers that were not originally designed for continued operation on marine distillate fuel or natural gas.
5 The sulphur content of fuel oil referred to in paragraph 1 and paragraph 4 of this regulation shall be documented by its supplier as required by regulation 18 of this Annex.
6 Those ships using separate fuel oils to comply with paragraph 4 of this regulation and entering or leaving an emission control area set forth in paragraph 3 of this regulation shall carry a written procedure showing how the fuel oil changeover is to be done, allowing sufficient time for the fuel oil service system to be fully flushed of all fuel oils exceeding the applicable sulphur content specified in paragraph 4 of this regulation prior to entry into an emission control area. The volume of low sulphur fuel oils in each tank as well as the date, time and position of the ship when any fuel oil changeover operation is completed prior to the entry into an emission control area or commenced after exit from such an area shall be recorded in such logbook as prescribed by the Administration.
7 During the first 12 months immediately following entry into force of an amendment designating a specific emission control area under paragraph 3 of this regulation, ships operating in that emission control area are exempt from the requirements in paragraphs 4 and 6 of this regulation and from the requirements of paragraph 5 of this regulation insofar as they relate to paragraph 4 of this regulation.
* Refer to 2010 Guidelines for monitoring the worldwide average sulphur content of fuel oils supplied for use on board ships (resolution MEPC.192(61), as amended by resolution MEPC.273(69)).
