Asia/Pacific News
Sulfur Rules Mean Greater Focus on Fuel Management
New Hong Kong rules on the sulfur content of marine fuel will further increase the importance of fuel management, marine insurer Skuld says in an advisory to members.
The advisory notes that new rules requiring diesel supplied in Hong Kong to meet a 0.05 percent sulfur standard go into effect on April 1, but this does not mean ocean-going ships must use that fuel.
Additional legislation that has not yet been adopted could require ships to use fuel with a 0.5 percent maximum sulfur content when at berth or anchor, starting January 1, 2015.
"Given the challenges of ensuring sufficient supplies of compliant fuel, managing fuel on board, managing the trading between areas with different regulations, it is likely that the issue of bunker fuel and bunker fuel management will continue to be a key concern for vessel operations," Skuld said.
"Advance planning and investment by Members to meet these challenges is likely to prove very important to continued successful trading going forward."
The insurer also called for members to continue to monitor developments in Hong Kong and to be aware of the continuing trend toward a focus on clean air, and reduction of the sulfur content of fuel, at ports worldwide.
The Hong Kong government has said suppliers that fail to comply with the new rules on diesel supply could receive a fine and imprisonment for up to three months.
