New Year 2019 – New Regulations

The 1st January is traditionally a day when new legislation and amendments to existing regulations come into force. 2019 will be no different.

New regulations that may affect your operations include:-

IMSBC Code

Amendments 04-17 to the IMSBC code, which have been in place on a voluntary basis since 1 January 2018, will become mandatory on 1 January 2019. The updates include:

• Amendments to existing cargo schedules including the coal schedule.
• 13 new cargo schedules.
• Modified Proctor/Fagerberg test for establishing the Transportable Moisture Limits (TML) for coal and iron ore fines.
• Substances harmful to the marine environment are now to be declared on the Shipper’s Declaration.

For more information on the IMSBC Code amendments, read our news item: 2019 Amendments to the IMSBC Code.

Taiwan, Hong Kong and China all implement sulphur caps from 1st January 2019

IMO’s 0.5% sulphur cap with be implemented globally from 1 January 2020, but on 1 January 2019 a maximum sulphur limit will be in force within the waters of Taiwan, Hong Kong and China.

See our news articles for further details:

• /insights/industry-news/taiwan-–-low-sulphur-fuel-rules-in-2019-starupdatestar/
• /insights/industry-news/hong-kong-–-new-air-pollution-regulations-starupdatestar/
• /insights/industry-news/china-eca-expands/
• /insights/industry-news/china-emission-control-areas-starupdatestar/

EU ship recycling regulations

From 31 December 2018, vessels flagged with an EU member state will be required to comply with the Ship Recycling Regulations No. 1257/2013. This means all EU-flagged ships over 500GT must not be scrapped in any non-approved facilities.

Any non-EU flagged vessel departing European waters to head for scrapping must continue to comply with the Waste Shipment Regulation (EC) 1013/2006.

See our Industry News articles for further details: /insights/signals-online/ships/scrapheap-challenge/scrapheap-challenge/

Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, Appendix V – Bunker Delivery Note

The revised bunker delivery note includes an amended declaration on the sulphur content of the fuel delivered that now also includes the “purchaser’s specified limit value” which will be applicable if the vessel is fitted with exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers).

IMO DCS (Data Collection System)

From 1 January 2019, all vessels of 5,000 GT and greater must start collecting the data using the methodology described in Part II of the vessel’s SEEMP (Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan).The deadline for submission of SEEMP Part II is 31 December 2018.