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Shipowners in India have voiced their disapproval of a proposal to reduce the sulphur content of marine fuel in Indian waters.

At a meeting yesterday with the Directorate-General of Shipping (DGS), officials of the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India (MoEF) and shipowners met to discuss the issue of sulphur levels in bunker fuel.

The revised MARPOL Annex VI regulation saw the global sulphur content of fuel oil reduced from 4.5% to 3.5% on January 1st 2012. The new sulphur limit applies to all waters - incuding India - other than Emission Control Areas (ECAs), where fuel oil with a sulphur content of 1% must be used.

Appendix V of MARPOL Annex VI also requires that all bunker delivery receipts (BDRs) must specify the density of the bunker fuel and its sulphur content. It is a legally binding document and the regulation states that it is the responsibility of the company receiving the fuel oil to provide this.

Commenting on the new regulation, DGS official Amitava Banerjee is quoted as saying: "This rule is followed by Indian ships when they are in foreign waters but is not mandatory for Indian ships in Indian waters."

Shipowners argue that reducing sulphur content will have a significant cost implication as fuel with a lower level of sulphur is more expensive. They also contend that it needs to be determined if the amount of SOx (sulphur oxides) emitted from Indian ships is significant enough to warrant a reduction.

“The IMO had in January come out with certain restrictions with respect to sulphur content in ship fuel. However, the Indian National Shipowners’ Association (INSA) and Indian Coastal Conference Shipping Association feel that imposing the same norms on them is harsh. Prima facie we feel no need for two different yardsticks for foreign and Indian ships and feel that sulphur content needs to be reduced. But we will consider with an open mind the plea of shipowners who feel this will put them under financial pressure,” said Director General, Shipping, Satish Agnihotri.

“We will convene a meeting with experts to take their views on conducting a study on the extent of sulphur dioxide (SO2) emmissions from Indian ships along the Indian coast. There will be representation from both INSA and the Indian Coastal Conference Shipping Association on the matter,” said Banerjee.