Following the Marine Environment Protection Committee 74 (MEPC 74) meeting last week, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has published guidelines adopted for the 2020 sulphur cap online.
The guidelines were adopted at the MEPC meeting held from 13–17 May in London.
The guidelines have sections on the impact on fuel and machinery systems resulting from new fuel blends or fuel types; verification issues and control mechanism and actions, including port State control and samples of fuel oil used on board; a standard reporting format for fuel oil non-availability (fuel oil non-availability report (FONAR); and possible safety implications relating to fuel oils meeting the 0.50% sulphur limit.
Shipowners have continued to express concerns over both low sulphur fuel availability and the enforcement of the global regulation come 1 January 2020.
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