Jul. 12 2019 Home Class & statutory IMO 2020 GLOBAL SULPHUR CAP LIMIT LinkedIn Twitter Facebook share Convention MARPOL Annex VI Air Pollution Flag ALL FLAGS Ship typeAll Sea going Ship types Imminent entry into force of the 0.50% sulphur limit on 1 January 2020. IMO 2020 Global Sulphur cap limit Compliance dates: > 1st January 2020 - Implementation date of global sulphur limit of 0.50% m/m for the fuel oil standard (regulation 14.1.3 of MARPOL Annex VI) It is reminded that IMO (MEPC 70 – October 2016) agreed to "1 January 2020" as the effective date of implementation for ships to comply with global 0.50% m/m sulphur content of fuel oil requirement, and adopted resolution MEPC.280(70) on the Effective date of implementation of the fuel oil standard in regulation 14.1.3 of MARPOL Annex VI. Under the new global limit, on 1 January 2020, ships will have to use fuel oil on board with a sulphur content of no more than 0.50% m/m, against the current limit of 3.50%, which has been in effect since 1 January 2012. The new global limit will not change the limits in SOx Emission Control Areas (ECAs) established by IMO, which since 1 January 2015 has been 0.10% m/m. > 1st March 2020 - Carriage ban of non-compliant fuel oil for combustion purposes for propulsion or operation on board a ship IMO (MEPC 73 – October 2018) adopted complementary MARPOL amendment to prohibit the carriage of non-compliant fuel oil for combustion purposes for propulsion or operation on board a ship - unless the ship uses an alternative compliance method (such as an exhaust gas cleaning system "scrubber") accepted by the flag State as an alternative means to meet the sulphur limit requirement. The amendment (Resolution MEPC.305(73)) is expected to enter into force on 1 March 2020 : NB: This amendment does not change in any way the entry into force date of the 0.50% limit from 1 January 2020. It is intended as an additional measure to support consistent implementation and compliance and provide a means for effective enforcement by States, particularly port State control. Fuel oil of emergency equipment: IMO approved MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.4 - unified interpretations to MARPOL Annex V which clarify that Regulation 14.1 of MARPOL Annex VI for the prohibition on carriage of non-compliant fuel oil should be applied to the fuel oil of emergency equipment. Implementation of 2020 Global Sulphur limit For a consistent implementation, IMO (MEPC 74 – May 2016) adopted Resolution MEPC.320(74) - 2019 Guidelines on consistent implementation of 0.50% sulphur limit under MARPOL Annex VI These Guidelines are intended for use by Administrations, port States, shipowners, shipbuilders and fuel oil suppliers. They cover the 2020 ship Implementation Impact on fuel and machinery systems Verification issues and control mechanism and actions Fuel oil non-availability including the FUEL OIL NON-AVAILABILITY REPORT (FONAR) standard format Possible safety implications relating to fuel oils meeting the 0.50% m/m sulphur limit Furthermore, IMO (MEPC 73 -October 2018) approved Circular MEPC.1/Circ.878 on Guidance on the development of a ship implementation plan for the consistent implementation of the 0.50% sulphur limit under MARPOL Annex VI. A ship implementation plan is not a mandatory requirement. A lack of a ship implementation plan or an incomplete ship implementation plan should not be considered as "clear grounds" for a more detailed inspection(reference MEPC.1/Circ.878 paragraph 4). Some Flag State