By mid-July 2020, some 2,359 systems had formally been reported to IMO as an approved “equivalent method” by Administrations (flag States). A ship fitted with a scrubber can use heavy fuel oil, since the sulphur oxides emissions will be reduced to a level equivalent to the required fuel oil sulphur limit. These scrubbers are designed to remove sulphur oxides from the ship’s engine and boiler exhaust gases. This is accepted by flag States as an alternative means to meet the sulphur limit requirement. Some ships limit the air pollutants by installing exhaust gas cleaning systems, also known as “scrubbers”. Additives may be added to enhance other properties, such as lubricity. Refineries may blend fuel oil with a high (non-compliant) sulphur content with fuel oil with a sulphur content lower than the required sulphur content to achieve a compliant fuel oil. This means ships must use fuel oil which is inherently low enough in sulphur, or install an appropriate exhaust "alternative” method, in order to meet IMO requirements. The IMO MARPOL regulations limit the sulphur content in fuel oil. What must ships do to comply with the new IMO regulations? IMO 2020 - A Breath of Fresh Air - download the infographic (PDF) by clicking on the image. Reducing these harmful emissions will therefore improve the health of populations, especially those living near ports and coasts, and help prevent premature deaths.Ī study on the human health impacts of SOx emissions from ships, submitted to IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) in 2016 by Finland, estimated that by not reducing the SOx limit for ships from 2020, the air pollution from ships would contribute to more than 570,000 additional premature deaths worldwide between 2020-2025. Sulphur oxides are linked to asthma, pulmonary, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The new limit was forecast to lead to a 77% drop in overall sulphur oxide emissions from ships – a reduction equivalent to 8.5 million metric tonnes of SOx. Simply put, limiting sulphur oxides emissions from ships reduces air pollution as well as particulate matter, which are tiny harmful particles which form when fuel is burnt. What are the impacts of the new limit on human health? The four ECAS are: the Baltic Sea area the North Sea area the North American area (covering designated coastal areas off the United States and Canada) and the United States Caribbean Sea area (around Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands).Ĭountries bordering the Mediterranean Sea are currently considering the possibility of applying to designate the Mediterranean Sea or parts thereof as an ECA (click here to learn more).Ģ. There is an even stricter limit of 0.10% m/m in effect in emission control areas (ECAS) which have been established by IMO. We have seen a substantial cut in the limit for sulphur content of fuel oil for ships operated outside designated emission control areas: from 3.50% m/m (mass by mass) to 0.50% m/m. IMO 2020 - five key changes 1. How significant is the reduction in sulphur oxides emissions? Derived as a residue from crude oil distillation, heavy fuel oil had a much higher sulphur content which, following combustion in the engine, ended up in ships’ emissions. Now, the vast majority of ships are using very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) to comply with the new limit, and no safety issues have to date been reported to IMO.īelow you will find answers to some of the frequently asked questions about the sulphur limit. Once released in the atmosphere, SOx can lead to acid rain, which impacts crops, forests and aquatic species and contributes to the acidification of the oceans.īefore the entry into force of the new limit, most ships were using heavy fuel oil. Sulphur oxides are harmful to human health, causing respiratory, cardiovascular and lung disease. The resulting reduction in sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions from ships is having major health and environmental benefits for the world, particularly for populations living close to ports and coasts. This new limit was made compulsory following an amendment to Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). Within specific designated emission control areas the limits were already stricter (0.10%). Known as “IMO 2020”, the rule limits the sulphur in the fuel oil used on board ships operating outside designated emission control areas to 0.50% m/m (mass by mass) - a significant reduction from the previous limit of 3.5%. On 1 January 2020, a new limit on the sulphur content in the fuel oil used on board ships came into force, marking a significant milestone to improve air quality, preserve the environment and protect human health.
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