Following the introduction of the new 0.5% limit of sulphur in
fuel oil on 1st January 2020, the International Maritime
Organisation's ("IMO") so called
'carriage ban' on non-compliant fuel came into force on the
1st March 2020. In terms of this ban, it will become an offence for
ships to carry fuel oils that contain sulphur content higher than
0.5%, unless the ship has a scrubber, or the non-compliant fuel is
carried as cargo. Effectively the carriage ban is an additional
mechanism aimed at giving teeth to the new global sulphur
limit.
If any ship is found to be in breach of the new sulphur limit or
the carriage ban, it may be subject to sanctions varying from
administrative fines or criminal penalties such as detention,
refusal or delay to enter port and prosecution. Sanctions are to be
determined by the flag and port states.
