OW Bunker highlighted the potential safety issues that ship owners and operators will face in Turkish waters when new local sulfur legislation comes into force from January 1, 2012. “This is a significant move by the Turkish authorities and is much more restrictive than current sulfur regulations,” says Steffen Kortegaard, Technical Director, OW Bunker. The new Turkish regulations mean that 0.1% sulfur content gas oil must be used by vessels calling at Turkish ports between the end of the sea passage and the commencement of the sea passage including in port anchorage areas. The regulation will not be applicable for vessels transiting through the Turkish Straits, such as the Bosporus or Dardanelles, even if they drop anchor providing the vessel maintains transit status.
