Noting the vast majority of ships would comply using 0.5% sulphur fuels the guide is written for those planning to use compliant fuels and explains the complexities they will face.
ICS secretary general, Guy Platten, explained: “Shipping companies may need to start ordering compliant fuels from as early as the middle of 2019, and they are strongly recommended to commence developing implementation plans as soon as possible.”
The ICS noted implementation would be far more complex than the introduction of Emission Control Areas due to its global scale and the availability of compliant fuels.
Read more: ICS' Poulsson keen to engage oil companies on low sulphur fuel availability in 2020
The ICS says that shipowners need to have a suitably developed implentation plan and be able to demonstrate “good faith” they had made all reasonable efforts to be in compliance.
“This need to demonstrate good faith could be particularly important in the event that safe and compliant fuels are unavailable in some ports during the initial weeks of implementation” said Platten. “And IMO has provisionally agreed that Port State Control authorities may take into account the ship’s implementation plan when verifying compliance with the 0.5% sulphur limit.
Concerns about the safety and quality issues of blended, compliant fuels remain.
The guide is available for download here
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