Cruise ships, tankers and other large ocean-going
vessels entering coastal waters near Puerto Rico and the US Virgin
Islands face a new regulatory challenge. Starting in January 2014,
those ships are required to use fuel with a sulfur content of just
1 per cent, or 10,000 parts per million (ppm), which is
significantly lower than what those ships are currently required to
use.
The requirements grow even stricter in January 2015. At that
time, ships in this area will be required to use fuel with a sulfur
content of just 0.1 per cent, or 1,000 ppm. The new fuel
requirements are intended to reduce air emissions of sulfur dioxide
and particulate matter. They mirror requirements already in effect
for other US waters, such as along the coasts of the continental
United States. Cruise and shipping lines that have already prepared
their fleets to use low sulfur fuel may not be affected by the new
Caribbean area requirements, but companies that have not made such
changes may
