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| Published：2019.03.13 News Sources：Qingdao Gute Ship Supplies Co., Ltd. Views： | |||
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Two major PSC organizations warn shipowners: the sulfur limit will take effect and will be strictly enforced
As the effective date of the Sulphur Restriction Order approaches, the Port State Control (PSC) agencies around the world are preparing for the implementation of the regulations. Shipowners who expect the regulators to moderately enforce the law at the beginning of the sulfur-restricting order are likely to be disappointed. The world's largest PSC organization, the Paris Memorandum and the Tokyo Memorandum, have issued warnings to shipowners that failure to comply with regulatory requirements will result in the detention of ships.
At the same time, these major PSC organizations are also investing in personnel training, technology and hardware facilities to meet the challenges of sulfur-restriction regulations. Some countries have imposed fines for non-compliance with IMO 2020 regulations. But for shipowners, the most expensive investment may be the removal of non-compliant fuel.
Nicholas Woo, a shipping partner at Birketts Law Firm, said the penalty could be lighter than extending the stay. “If the PSC organization implements the spirit of the law and requires the ship to remove non-compliant fuel, this will result in delays in many ships and a large loss.”
The IMO Guide provides inspectors with a list of compliance checks. The Fuel Delivery Order (BDN) and onboard samples will be the first stage proof that the shipowner has demonstrated that he has used compliant fuel. After that, it is possible to conduct a fuel test if there is good reason to suspect that the ship may not meet the requirements.
Hideo Kubota, Secretary General of the Tokyo Memorandum, said: "The fuel test will only be carried out if there is clear evidence that the fuel used by the ship cannot meet the requirements of the 2020 Sulfur Limit Order." His goal is to "consistently and harmoniously" in the area under his jurisdiction. Implemented sulfur-restriction regulations and considered IMO's PSC inspection guidelines adequate.
Sunil Krishna Kumar, technical director of the International Shipping Association (ICS), said that shipowners don't have to worry as long as they follow the IMO's regulatory implementation template and have detailed implementation plans. He suggested: "Record everything, as long as you can show your regulatory implementation plan to PSC and do your best to comply, there is nothing to worry about."
IMO has developed a standard Fuel Unacceptability Report (Fonar) that, if the shipowner fails to obtain compliant fuel, can use the report to demonstrate their attempts to purchase compliant fuel. If the shipowner feels that the compliant fuel is not safe, this report can also give them the opportunity to refuse to use the compliant fuel. However, ICS Deputy Secretary-General Simon Bennett reminded shipowners not to treat fuel unreachability reports as “free passes” to evade regulatory restrictions.
Inspectors who monitor sulfur emissions have been fully aware of these changes. Since the initial implementation of the Sulphur Control Policy in 2015, the European Maritime Safety Administration (EMSA) has trained 40 inspectors annually from member states. Canada also sent staff to participate in training activities. Georgios Christofi, director of environmental and capacity building at the European Maritime Safety Authority, said his department had created an e-learning model to complement the two-and-a-half-day training session.
In addition, EMSA has arranged for inspectors to practice on board the Lisbon port. In order to obtain different perspectives, they usually choose to install a washing tower or LNG-powered ship. EMSA's goal is to maintain a level playing field in Europe. The agency has also prepared new tools for the implementation of regulations. They have developed an online service that alerts people through drones once they discover potential non-compliant fuel.
In the past few years, EMSA has been developing long-range pilot aircraft systems (RPAS) to monitor ship exhaust and pollution emissions, as well as for search and rescue operations. Member States can use these services and the resulting data will be communicated directly to EMSA via drones or related agencies. Leendert Bal, head of operations at EMSA, said that three drones will be monitored for emissions in Denmark, France and Greece this year, the first of which will be put into use in Denmark next month. Christofi said that after the sulfur-restricting order is in force, the ship will not be punished only for drone monitoring. The long-range aircraft system will not cause more ship detention and inspection, but will bring more reasonable ship inspection methods. Potential non-compliant ships can be found.
In addition, Singapore and Hong Kong, which are known for their strict enforcement, have also stated that they will take a tough stance on the implementation of the sulfur-restriction regulations. Both the Singapore Maritime and Port Authority and the Hong Kong Maritime Service have stated that they will impose heavy penalties on the lawless. In Hong Kong, the use of non-compliant fuel will face a fine of up to $12,750, while in Singapore it is $7,400. The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority stated that if the ship does not meet the requirements of the Sulphur Regulations, the shipowner and the captain may also be in prison for up to two years. The two major regulators also indicated that they have prepared personnel and technology for the implementation of the sulfur-restriction regulations. (Compiled from Trade Winds)
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