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Local authorities at the Pearl River Delta port of Shenzhen, the third largest container port in the world, have decided to implement stricter regulations on the maximum sulphur content of marine fuels from October 2016 - three months before new rules are due to become effective in January 2017.

Following a decision made by local authorities, as from 1st October, ships calling at Shenzhen will be required to use marine fuel with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.5 percent when at berth, Huatai Insurance Agency has been informed.

The development follows the recent implementation, on 1st April 2016, of a similar 0.5 percent sulphur regulation for ships berthing at key ports of the Yangtze River Delta Emission Control Area (ECA), namely Shanghai, Ningbo, Zhoushan, Suzhou and Nantong. It excludes one hour before departure and arrival.

Huatai said the Shenzhen local port authorities were currently "working out details on these requirements and plan to issue a formal notice in [sic] the end of this month".

The port of Shenzhen is said to have ten berths equipped with shore power facilities, which can be used by vessels berthing as an alternative to low-sulphur fuel.

Regulations

Hong Kong was the first Pearl River Delta port to enforce the obligatory use of fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 0.5 percent last year. Its Air Pollution Control (Ocean Going Vessels) (Fuel at Berth) Regulation, L.N. 51 of 2015, became effective on 1st July 2015.

At the start of this year, on 1st January, China's three ECAs - the Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta and Bohai Rim - became effective and ships were encouraged, but not obliged, to begin using 0.5 percent sulphur fuel when at berth or anchor by the Ministry of Transport.

In January 2017, the 0.5 percent regulation will be obligatory for ships when at berth or anchor at the following 'key' ECA ports: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhujiang, Shanghai, Ningbo, Zhoushan, Suzhou, Nantong, Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Tangshan and Huanghua.

In January 2018, the rules will apply to ships when at berth or anchor at all ports in China's three ECAs. Then, in January 2019, the 0.5 percent regulation will extend to all ECA waters.

It is understood that the Ministry of Transport intends to reduce the 0.5 percent ECA limit to 0.1 percent on 1st January 2020, though this is yet to be confirmed.