The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) has called on the
bunker industry to comply with the spirit of Marpol Annex VI in addition to
meeting the specific technical requirements laid out in the legislation.
Don Gregory, chairman of IBIA, says, "A global cap of 4.5 per cent sets down
the maximum sulphur content in bunker fuel. It will be very disappointing
indeed if we hear reports of fuel exceeding that very conservative limit".
Marpol Annex VI sets a 4.5 per cent global limit on sulphur content in
bunker fuel. In addition suppliers will need to provide a bunker delivery
note specifying density, viscosity and sulphur content. Suppliers are also
obliged to take a sample in an approved manner, in case the vessel needs to
present these at a future port
state control inspection. "As chairman of
IBIA, I believe that shipowners, charterers and suppliers should take the
initiative and follow in the spirit of Marpol Annex VI by ensuring full
compliance with the requirements," says Gregory.
Marpol Annex VI also sets regional limits of 1.5 per cent sulphur in the
form of sulphur emission control areas (SECAs). The first SECA becomes
active in the North Sea on May 19th 2007.
Ian Adams, IBIA secretary general says, "Marpol Annex VI has officially been
ratified and came into force on May 19th, but not all individual countries
have agreed to enforce the legislation.
"If a vessel takes on bunker fuel in a port that is not a signatory to Annex
VI, owners should still insist the bunker supplier complies with the terms
in the legislation, by providing a low sulphur fuel, a bunker delivery note
and taking an approved bunker sample. Port state control in a county that
has ratified Annex VI may ask to inspect all of these things, up to three
years after the date of the bunker stem. It is no protection that the
vessels' flag state, or the country that the fuel was bunkered in are not
signatories to Annex VI. They must still comply."