American Club member alert: New US Coast Guard procedure for notification of non-availability of compliant fuel oil as per Annex V, Regulation 18.4.2 of the MARPOL Convention 73/78

Under Annex VI, Regulation 18.4.2 of the MARPOL Convention 73/78 owners and operators of vessels operating in North American or US Caribbean Sea Emissions Control Areas (ECAs) which are unable to acquire compliant fuel oil at a foreign or domestic port are obliged to notify the competent US authority at the relevant port of destination.

Members should note that as of June 30, 2019, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is no longer accepting Fuel Oil Non-Availability Reports (FONARs). Henceforth, Members are to notify the cognizant US Coast Guard Captain of the Port (CoTP) as the competent authority at the port of destination.

Further details regarding this change are to be found in US Coast Guard Marine Safety Information Bulletin, New Procedure for Shipping Industry to Notify the US Government of Non-Availability of Compliant Fuel Oil, MSIB Number 005-19 as linked.