IMO Approves New Requirement For Low Sulfur Fuel Oil

The Maritime Safety Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), at its 73rd meeting, held in October/2018, approved an amendment to MARPOL Annex VI which prohibits the presence on board of fuel oil whose sulfur content exceeds 0.50%, for the ship's own use, as of 03/01/2020.

The aim of this amendment is to ensure the effectiveness of Marpol's Annex, which establishes that, as of 01/01/2020, the fuel oil to be used by vessels will have a reduced sulfur content from 3.50% to 0.50%.

Ships provided with an approved Scrubber system on board shall be exempt from meeting the new standard. In this sense it is emphasized that the number of ships choosing such option is still very small.