Page 15 - INTERCARGO - Annual Report_2021

Global Sulphur Limit
and Fuel Quality
Since 1st January 2020 ships have
been required to use fuels with a
maximum sulphur content of 0.5%.
As highlighted in the industry fuel
quality survey carried out in 2020,
the maritime industry’s transition
to this new regulation has not been
without problems, and during the
first half of 2021 fuel quality issues
continue to be experienced.
For more information on this topic please visit:
intercargo.org/news/topics/emissions
and for a more detailed review, visit
intercargo.org/sox-emissions-an-account/
The requirement for ships to change over from 3.5% sul-
phur limit fuels to fuels with a 0.5% sulphur limit was a step
change never before attempted on such a global scale, and
considerable planning and preparation had been undertak-
en by owners and operators to ensure compliance with the
new regulation.
Unfortunately, during 2020, despite shipowners’ best efforts,
it was widely seen that off-specification fuel was being deliv-
ered to vessels. In May 2021 INTERCARGO, BIMCO, ICS and
INTERTANKO launched a new fuel survey targeted at the as-
sociations’ members, with the aim of gaining a better under-
standing of the fuel related issues encountered by the indus-
try and particularly those related to the bunkering and the use
of marine fuel oil. The survey will run until May 2022 and it is
hoped that the data collected from the survey will help to im-
prove quality and safety standards of marine fuel oil through
the associations’ work at the IMO and other fora.
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