1 January deadline for sulphur cap requirements looms

Requirements for ships to cut sulphur oxide emissions enter into effect in a few weeks’ time and the IMO has recently held a roundtable to monitor progress. The new requirement means that the global limit for sulphur in fuel oil used on board ships will be reduced to 0.5 per cent m/m (mass by mass). Within designated emission control areas (ECAs), the limit will remain at 0.1 per cent. The new limit will be mandatory, under a regulation in Annex VI of IMO’s MARPOL convention for the prevention of pollution from ships.