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Industry News

IBIA kills rumours of delay on EU fuel directive

The International Bunker Industry Association has responded to confusion over a new requirement for all ships to use low-sulphur fuel while berthed in EU ports.

EU Directive 2005/33/EC requires that, with effect from 1 January 2010, member states must ensure that ships at berth do not use marine fuels with a sulphur content exceeding 0.1%.  Reports circulating in the industry suggest that the deadline has been extended because the switchover could pose safety risks on ships with unmodified boilers.

IBIA chief executive Ian Adams stresses: “Nothing could be further from the truth.  We have heard various rumours, such as implementation of the directive has been postponed by six months, but it came into force on January 1 and applies to all ships operating to EU ports.

“Ships are not exempt on the grounds that modifications have not been made to its boilers or to the ship itself.  In such cases the expectation is not that the ship should engage in an unsafe practice, but simply that it will not berth.  Similarly, there is no automatic dispensation for ships that have made arrangements to carry out the necessary modifications but have not yet implemented them.”

Mr Adams says there are very few exceptions to the rules, but confirms that the European Commission has recommended member states to apply a degree of flexibility for a transitional period in cases where there is detailed evidence of an approved plan for a vessel and/or its boilers to be modified.

IBIA advises that the operator of any non-compliant ship bound for an EU port should check with the relevant local authority before entering port on what control measures might be taken while the ship is berthed.

  

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