North Updates Guidance on 2020 Sulphur Cap

Many uncertainties still surround the global fuel sulphur cap which takes effect on 1 January 2020. To help our Members, North has updated its 2020 fuel sulphur cap guidance following recent developments.

Our ‘Preparing for the Big Switch’ guides have been updated following the clarification on regulation and compliance from the IMO meeting at MEPC 74 and as more information on new very-low sulphur fuel oils (VLSFO) came to light.

The three updated guides look at each of the most common methods of compliance: burning compliant distillates (such as 0.50% max MGO), burning compliant blended/hybrid VLSFO products and using exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers).

The guides are designed to assist shipowners and charterers make a safe transition to compliance before 1 January 2020 and remove any non-compliant fuel before 1 March 2020.

The updates include:

• Looking at some of the key outcomes of MEPC 74 and how it may impact your transition to compliance before 1 January 2020.
• Risks associated with storing, handling and burning new fuels.
• New experiences in tank cleaning.
• Notifying non-compliance.
• Fuel sampling and sulphur testing criteria.
• Guidelines for port State control.
• Charterparty clauses for managing the transition.

A key feature of the guides is North’s ‘Charterparty Roadmap’. Developed by our expert FD&D team, the roadmap provides an example timetable to assist in providing the details for any charterparty transition clauses.

The guides can be downloaded for free in our 2020 Vision Insights area.