Asia/Pacific News
China's ECAs Has Had Minimal Impact on Vessel Operators: Market Sources
Market sources say low bunker fuel prices and sufficient preparation time has meant that the 2017 extension of China's emission control areas (ECAs) to several major ports has had minimal impact on vessel operators, Platts reports.
As Ship & bunker has reported, the ECA regulations initially require ships at berth in affected ports to use fuel with a sulfur content of no more than 0.50 percent, except during the first hour after arrival and the last hour before departure.
Sources say the gradual implementation of ECA regulations, as well as less stringent sulfur content requirements compared to other international ECAs, has given shipowners time to respond.
"Everything has been pretty smooth as this regulation started from last year, so shipowners are aware of what to do," said one source.
Another source notes that, because ships can use high sulfur fuel for one hour after arrival and one hour before departure, only the berthing period between the first and last hour requires the use of low sulfur fuel.
"Not much fuel is needed while discharging cargo or otherwise during berthing," said a ship broker, noting that there seems to have been no impact on trade negotiations as a result of the ECA implementation.
One shop owner, commenting on the situation, said: "fuel purchasing has become a little bit more expensive [since ECAs were introduced] but the differential is not all that much.
As Ship & Bunker has reported, on January 1, 2018, the 0.50 percent at-berth fuel requirement will be extended to cover all ports within the ECAs of the Pearl River Delta (PRD), Yangtze River Delta (YRD), and Bohai Bay regions.
Then, on January 1, 2019 the regulation will extend to require all ships operating within the waters of the PRD, YRD, and Bohai Bay regions, effectively 12 nautical miles off the Chinese coastline within the respective zones, to use a marine fuel with a sulfur content not exceeding 0.50 percent.
