THE US is sharpening its teeth when it comes to IMO 2020 fuel sulphur emissions cap enforcement, threatening harsh penalties for sidestepping the regulation, reports American Shipper.
In new guidance issued by the US Coast Guard (USCG), vessels calling on US ports will be expected to carry documents showing they are burning fuel with a sulphur content of no more than 0.5 per cent while in international waters from January 1.
In addition to burning lower sulphur fuel, ships can comply by filtering emissions using a 'scrubber' in the ship's smokestack or by using an alternative fuel such as liquefied natural gas.
Regulations tighten further on March 1, when a high sulphur fuel carriage ban goes into effect and ships will no longer be able to carry noncompliant fuel in their bunker tanks.
Some are sceptical about the ability of regulators in the US and around the world to keep noncompliant shipowners from cheating by burning cheaper fuel.
The USCG emphasised in its updated guidance, however, that since the US is bound to enforce the regulation, it 'will review BDNs [bunker delivery notes] and check logs to determine whether the vessel is complying with the applicable fuel sulphur limit when operating beyond US waters.'
WORLD SHIPPING
In new guidance issued by the US Coast Guard (USCG), vessels calling on US ports will be expected to carry documents showing they are burning fuel with a sulphur content of no more than 0.5 per cent while in international waters from January 1.
In addition to burning lower sulphur fuel, ships can comply by filtering emissions using a 'scrubber' in the ship's smokestack or by using an alternative fuel such as liquefied natural gas.
Regulations tighten further on March 1, when a high sulphur fuel carriage ban goes into effect and ships will no longer be able to carry noncompliant fuel in their bunker tanks.
Some are sceptical about the ability of regulators in the US and around the world to keep noncompliant shipowners from cheating by burning cheaper fuel.
The USCG emphasised in its updated guidance, however, that since the US is bound to enforce the regulation, it 'will review BDNs [bunker delivery notes] and check logs to determine whether the vessel is complying with the applicable fuel sulphur limit when operating beyond US waters.'
WORLD SHIPPING