Following from the Shipowners’ Club:
We would like to advise Members that from 1st August 2012 the North American Emission Control Area (ECA) will come into effect. Under this new regulation, all ships sailing within 200 nautical miles of the North American coastline, including Canada, will be required to use fuel oil with a maximum sulphur content of 1%.
The sulphur content of fuel oil will be further restricted to 0.1% from 1st January 2015. From 1st August 2012, Transport Canada’s Port State Control Officers will check ships’ compliance with ECA requirements including:
- 1. The ship’s bunker delivery receipt to verify the sulphur content of fuel oil supplied
- 2. The Material Safety Data Sheet of the fuel oil on board
- 3. The ship’s record of fuel oil changeover procedures prior to entering into ECA areas
- Â 4. The record of shipboard incinerator usage.
In cases where a vessel cannot comply with ECA requirements due to non-availability of low sulphur fuel oil during voyage, owners must show proof that an attempt had been made to obtain low-sulphur fuel oil.
Port State Control will consider on a case-by-case basis if a penalty will be imposed for non-compliance.
Members should be advised that ships are required to have the following certificates/documents on board:
- 1. International Air Pollution Prevention (IAPP) certificate
- 2. Engine International Air Pollution Prevention (EIAPP) certificate
- 3. Technical file of each applicable marine diesel engine
- 4. Record book of engine parameters for each marine diesel engine
- 5. Written procedures covering fuel oil change oil operations.
We advise all Members to ensure they are in compliance with these regulation changes prior to the implementation date and that ships’ crew and operations departments are fully familiar with the requirements.
Source of information: GAC – Hot Port News (http://www.gac.com/gac/news_media.aspx?id=56370)
