Web-Alert: update on Emission Control Areas in China (Yangtze River Delta ECA)

The Ministry of Transport of China has confirmed that from 1 April 2016, vessels should use low-sulphur fuel oil (with sulphur content ≤0.5% m/m) during the period the ship is ‘at-berth’ at one of the ‘key ports’.

Further to the club’s web-alert on implementation of Emission Control Areas in China, the Ministry of Transport of China has confirmed that from 1 April 2016, vessels should use low-sulphur fuel oil (with sulphur content ≤0.5% m/m) during the period the ship is ‘at-berth’ at one of the ‘key ports’ (Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Suzhou and Nantong) within Yangtze River Delta ECA.

This requirement is a part of the emission control measures that will be implemented in the Yangtze River Delta ECA in two phases:

In the first phase, which takes effect from 1 April 2016:

Ships ‘at-berth’ at the key ports in the Yangtze River Delta ECA must use fuel oil containing 0.5% sulphur or less;
Ships ‘at-berth’ at all ports in the Yangtze River Delta ECA are encouraged to use fuel oil containing 0.1% sulphur or less;
Ships entering the Yangtze River Delta ECA are encouraged to use fuel oil containing 0.5% sulphur or less

The second phase will be enforced after a further assessment of the implementation of the first phase; possible requirements may include:

Ships entering the Yangtze River Delta ECA must use fuel oil containing 0.5% sulphur or less;
Ships entering the Yangtze River Delta ECA must use fuel oil containing 0.1% sulphur or less;
Ships ‘at-berth’ at all ports in the Yangtze River Delta ECA must use fuel oil containing 0.1% sulphur or less

Members are advised to ensure compliance to these stricter requirements (i.e. using fuel oil with sulphur content ≤0.5% m/m) in the Yangtze River Delta ECA; particularly when calling the ports of Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Suzhou and Nantong from 1 April 2016.

The club’s correspondents in China have also checked with the local authorities at the key ports in Pearl River Delta and Bohai-rim Waters, and they have been informed that at this stage there is no intention of requiring higher standards for ships calling those regions. For more details, please refer to the Huatai Insurance Agency & Consultant Service Ltd circular no. 1601.