---

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) has emphasised that, with effect from April 20, 2010, EU regulations on the sulphur content of fuel used by ships at berth in EU ports become law in the UK, and ships failing to comply will face the risk of prosecution.

The UK Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 essentially implement, in the UK, EU Directive 2005/33/EC, which requires that member states must take all necessary steps to ensure that ships at berth in their ports do not use marine fuels with a sulphur content exceeding 0.1 per cent by mass.

The new regulations amend the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) Regulations 2008 and implement the marine fuel elements of the EU Sulphur Content of Liquid Fuels (SCLF) Directive.

In addition to the requirements under MARPOL Annex VI, the new regulations embrace the following requirements:

- All passenger ships on regular services between EU ports must use fuels with a sulphur content not exceeding 1.5 per cent by mass.

- A 0.1 per cent sulphur limit on fuel used by inland waterway vessels and by seagoing ships at berth in EU ports.

- A ban on the marketing of marine diesel oils with a sulphur content exceeding 1.5 per cent by mass.

- A ban on the marketing of marine gas oils with a sulphur content exceeding 0.1 per cent by mass.

IBIA Chief Executive Ian Adams said, “It is essential that ships operating in UK waters are in full compliance with the new regulations. As already emphasised, ships are not exempt on the ground that the fuel changeover is unsafe because modifications have not been made to their boilers, or to the ship itself. All non-compliant ships are at risk.

“The new regulations, which make no reference to the new lower sulphur limit for ECAs of one per cent which comes into effect on July 1, 2010, are a good illustration of how domestic implementing legislation often lags behind the decisions of international organisations.”