IMO’s MEPC will discuss Norwegian proposals for ship implementation plans relating to the new low sulphur cap at its 73rd session this month.
Norway’s proposals call for plans to be developed that are both in accordance with agreed IMO guidance and robust enough to ensure compliance with the cap by the time it comes into force on 1 January 2020.
Aderco chief executive Olivier Baiwir, whose Switzerland-based company specialises in fuel additives, echoed this call: “There is no time for shipowners, ship managers and operators to lose in getting their vessels ready for the IMO sulphur cap. The regulations come into force in little over 12 months but there have to be preparations well in advance of this to ensure compliance.”
Norway’s proposals also raise the possibility of extra and detailed port state control inspections to ensure compliance with the cap, and the country has suggested that effective inspections in a transitional period could be aided by written ship implementation plans demonstrating preparations.
“We have been telling our customers that tank cleaning ideally needs to start no later than June 2019 to ensure they do not fall foul of the new regulations,” Mr Baiwir added.
“There will undoubtedly be cases of a lack of compliant fuels in the early part of 2020 depending on bunkering and locations. If owners have cleaned their tanks with a fuel treatment and protected the engine, then they are in a better position to cope with the issues of potential damage from contaminated fuel.”
Sources:mpropulsion
Please Contact Us at：
admin@xindemarine.com
