The new revision of MARPOL Annex VI includes a clause to prevent ships from being penalised for fuel quality non-compliance outside their control in
connection with Regulation 18.

There should be no penalty to ships that are unable to obtain the fuel necessary to comply with a given requirement under Regulation 14 (LSFO).
Ships must provide documentation proving that it could not get hold of compliant fuel, prior to entering an ECA, despite best efforts.

The clause states that a ship "should not be required to deviate from its intended voyage or to delay unduly the voyage in order to achieve compliance." Ships are required to "notify its Administration and the competent authority of the relevant port of destination when it cannot purchase compliant fuel oil.“

Many European manufacturers, ship operators and ship owners have united to protest at the awaiting ECA limit which will have an impact northern Europe from 2015.

They are objecting to using more expensive distillate fuels with 0.10% sulphur content from 2015, while those in other regions, including the Mediterranean Sea, can still use cheaper HSFO.

The group wants members states to go to the IMO to get the regulation changed since no proper research into the impact of the rule has been completed.

The protesters believe the decision to go ahead with the 0.10% in sulphur content will lead to a negative back-shift trend from sea to road and will have a huge impact on freight costs.

MEPC 61 - Update
MEPC 61.4.2 “REVISED GUIDELINES FOR MONITORING THE WORLDWIDE AVERAGE SULPHUR CONTENT OF FUEL OILS SUPPLIED FOR USE ON
BOARD SHIPS” by Secretariat

(proposed by Norway – to include all types of fuel oil covered by Annex VI with assistance from DNVPS)

Conclusion:

Adopted by MEPC61.

For more info and full story download attached file

Infomarine On-Line Technical Library

File	Description	File size
Regulations- revision 01 June 2011.pdf	New Clause on Fuel Availability Regulations- revision 01 June 2011.pdf	3545 Kb