Under the IMO Marpol VI regulation, the global fuel sulphur content will need to fall to a maximum of 0.50% by 2020 or 2025, subject to a review in 2018.
Yuen, speaking at SIBCON 2014 held in Singapore on Wednesday, told delegates that BP wants clarification on the transition date to the use of the ultra-low sulphur fuel, or distillates.
He added that the 2020 implementation year is feasible as the industry will employ the use of various solutions, including abatement technology, fuel compliance and LNG, to meet the sulphur content limit.
“The transition to 0.5% sulphur content limit is difficult due to its geographical reach and scale, but this challenge will not be diminished by a delay to 2025,” Yuen pointed out.
“The single most important issue now is for the IMO to confirm the implementation date as the delay is unlikely to change the economics of the avilable solutions,” he said.
He added that a firm date will also allow the oil suppliers to have a clearer foresight to prepare and ensure the availability of supply, which has been one of the major concerns for industry players.
Yuen affirmed that BP is ready to engage in dialogues with all stakeholders so as to address the challenge, and is willing to support the shipping industry and the IMO to achieve the global low-sulphur regulation.
The IMO has enforced a global 3.50% fuel sulphur content limit since 1 January 2012. In Emission Control Areas (ECAs) of the Baltic Sea and North Sea, ships are required to burn fuel with sulphur content limit of 1.00%, falling to 0.10% in 2015.
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