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UK-based Videotel - a provider of maritime training systems - has produced two new programmes designed to help ship owners meet progressively tighter fuel and emission controls, including a limit that is due to come into effect on 1 January 2015.

In a statement, Videotel said: "Ship owners and ship managers need to be aware that the MARPOL Annex VI limits applicable in Emission Control Areas (ECAs) for sulphur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter, having already been reduced to 1.00% in 2010, are being further reduced to just 0.10 %, effective from 1 January 2015."

Videotel's 'MARPOL Annex VI Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships, Edition 2' focuses on ways that ship owners can reduce the main air pollutants contained in exhaust gas through engine design, tuning, and maintenance. Procedural guidelines for incinerator use are also described and the need for training is emphasised.

The programme also covers new MARPOL Annex VI regulations concerning the management of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) which prohibit deliberate venting of ODS often found in air conditioning, refrigeration, and fire fighting systems.

Furthermore, Videotel has also produced 'The Practical Management and Switching of Marine Fuels' programme, specifically designed to provide a practical guide to what is required of officers and engineers to process fuel oil from the bunker tank to the engine.

The programme addresses MARPOL Annex VI and emphasises the importance of monitoring every stage of filtering and purification to ensure the most efficient combustion is achieved, cleanly and economically.

Topics include marine fuel oils; bunkering; storage and settling tanks; centrifuge; heaters and filters; fuel combustion; fuel switching; planning; and temperature and viscosity control.

"It is vital that ship owners and ship managers are aware of, and comply with the ever tightening of limits set by MARPOL Annex VI. Our programmes are designed to help them make this transition and avoid potentially serious issues when switching marine fuels," explained Nigel Cleave, CEO of Videotel.

Both programmes are available in DVD, Videotel on Demand (VOD), VOD online, and eLearning Computer Based Training (CBT). All are accompanied by a PDF workbook which highlights key learning points.