Republic of Korea (South Korea)
Republic of Korea (South Korea) Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has announced that SOx Emission Control Areas (SECA) will be implemented in and around a number of major ports under Article 10(1) of The Special Act on the Improvement of Air Quality in Port Areas.
The ports are:
- Incheon (including Kyongin Port)
- Pyeongtaek-Dangjin
- Yeosu
- Gwang-yang (including Hadong port)
- Busan
- Ulsan
Korean Register Technical Information notice No.: 2020-ETC-06 Date: 9th July, 2020, gives geographic coordinates and maps of the areas. (Click here to view)
- From 1st September 2020, ships at berth or at anchor will be required to use fuel with sulphur content not exceeding 0.10%. Fuel changeover is to be within 1 hour of completing anchoring/mooring and compliant fuel must continue to be used until 1 hour before heaving anchor/deberthing.
- From 1st January 2022, changeover to 0.10% low sulphur fuel is to be completed at entry into the SECA and use of compliant fuel must continue while the vessel remains inside the SECA.
- Alternatively, EGCS (Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems) compliant with MARPOL requirements can be used providing the reduction in SOx emission is as least as effective as using 0.10% sulphur fuel. There are no restrictions on overboard washwater discharges from open-loop scrubbers.
The Korean Register publication also gives further details on information to be logged if a compliant fuel or alternatively EGCS is to be used and confirms that a written changeover procedure is mandatory if 0.10% sulphur fuel rather than EGCS is the method of compliance.
Downloads of Korean Register rules and technical information can be found in both Korean and English languages at https://www.krs.co.kr/eng/Exclusive/Tech_ETC.aspx?MRID=546&URID=539&TechCode=7
