ICS calls not to forget about IMO 2020
Maybe in the second line due to coronavirus precautions, port state control authorities nevertheless have been enforcing the IMO’s Sulphur 2020 since the beginning of March, making it an offence for ships to carry fuel that contains a sulphur content higher than 0.5% unless the ship has an exhaust gas cleaning system. The International Chamber of Shipping reminds shipowners and operators of the ban and reiterates the fact that any ships found to be non-compliant face the prospect of detention.
Showing that vessels without exhaust gas cleaning systems have non-compliant fuel aboard, is enough to prove a violation. Major port state regimes including Paris MoU, Tokyo MoU and the United States Coast Guard (USCG), have made it plain that they will rigorously enforce the requirements.
Guy Platten, secretary general ICS said: “Since the introduction of IMO 2020 on 1 January 2020, ships have been given a ‘grace period’ while the industry transitions to low-sulphur fuel.“ This period is over now. (mw)