EMSA: Spot Checks Show 94% Vessel Compliance with ECA Rules in European Waters

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Friday May 22, 2015

94 percent of spot checked vessels operating in European waters were found by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to be compliant with new sulfur regulations for marine fuel, Ship Management International reports.

A total of 1,458 vessels were checked between January and April of this year, with 6 percent of those, a total of 90 vessels, being found to be non-compliant.

The reasons for noncompliance were said to include keeping inaccurate records or having incorrect processes, being unable to produce satisfactory fuel samples, and having fuel in tank with a sulfur content above the permitted level of 0.10 percent.

As of January 2015, vessels operating within Emission Control Areas (ECAs) are required to burn fuel with a maximum sulfur content of 0.10 percent by weight, down from the previous limit of 1.0 percent.

The numbers compare to data released by the Port of Gothenburg in March, which showed 20 percent of ships were not complying with the new sulfur rules.

UK bunker supplier Geos Group says shipowners and operators should be aware that the checks are taking place and ensure that their vessels meet the EU regulations.

"It is increasingly important for fuel buyers to understand what they have on board in terms of specification, flashpoint and sulfur," Barry Newton, managing director, Geos Group said in an emailed statement.

"Being in control of our supply chain from the oil refinery and onwards to the vessel means that our customers can trust us to supply top quality product every time."

The EU requires member states to conduct spot checks on a minimum of 10 percent of ships in its waters in 2015, although several states were said to be planning to exceed this and test up to 20 percent.

In February, the European Commission said that the number of Emission Control Area (ECA) non-compliance cases in Europe have been "very few" to date.