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1. China has designated its entire coastline* as an Emission Control Area (ECA), requiring the use of fuel oil with a maximum sulphur content of 0.5%. This regional ECA includes any areas within China territorial waters and applies to all ships that are sailing, anchoring, or working in the ECAs, excluding military ships, sporting ships, and fishing boats.

(*Waters under the jurisdiction of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan are excluded from this requirement.)

2. Starting 01 January 2019:

• The Sulphur content of fuel oil used by ships entering the ECA must not exceed 0.50%;
• The Sulphur content of marine fuel oil used by seagoing ships entering the inland ECAs must not exceed 0.50%; and
• Inland ships must use fuels in accordance with Chinese standards, either GB 252 or a new version which is expected to replace it.

3. China Administration has advised that compliance to above requirement may be permitted by alternative methods, including the use of shore power, using clean energy, or exhaust gas scrubbers

4. Ship owners /operators and masters are advised to be guided by the above.

Enclosure:

1. Nil     

Disclaimer:

This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.

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