Emission Control Areas–Ultra Low Sulphur Fuel Oil Change-over Procedures Introduction

From 1 January 2015 for ships without an approved and effective exhaust gas scrubber operating within an Emission Control Area (ECA),the sulphur content of fuel oil used should not exceed 0.10% by mass (10ppm).

All main and auxiliary engines and boilers are affected by the Regulation, meaning that vessels using heavy fuel oil must have completed the change-Over process and operate on ultra – low sulphur fuel upon entering an ECA.

Note : Prior to 1 January 2020, the sulphur content limit of fuel oil shall not apply to ships operating in the North American ECA or the United States Caribbean Sea area that were built on or before 1 August 2011 and are powered by propulsion boilers that were not originally designed for continued operation on marine distillate fuel or natural gas.

Ships operating within the European ECA have become familiar with existing European legislation where the maximum sulphur content of fuels used by ships at berth has not been allowed to exceed 0.10% by mass in EU ports since the 1 January 201 0 unless the vessel was:

• Due to be at berth in a port that lies outside of the ECA for less than two hours;
• Planned to use only a shore based power supply.

From January 2015 Members choosing to continue to trade within an ECA and who have not fitted an exhaust gas scrubber will have to consider important factors including, the calorific value, decreased viscosity and lower flash point of distillate fuel such as MGO in comparison to IFO.

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