Web Alert: Early implementation of low sulphur fuel oil requirements for ships in ALL ports within Yangtze River Delta ECA

Further to the previous web alert on the Chinese emission control area (ECA) requirements update, the club’s correspondent in China (Huatai Insurance Agency and Consultant Service Ltd) have advised on an early implementation of the 0.50% sulphur cap in ports of the Yangtze River Delta ECA.

The requirement to use fuel with sulphur content not exceeding 0.50% whilst berthed has been enforced in the four designated key ports of Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Suzhou and Nantong in this ECA, since 1 April 2016. However, the application of the requirement has now been extended to other ports, and from 1 September 2017, ships berthing at ALL ports in the Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces must use fuel with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.50%.

Members are therefore recommended to ensure that their ships due for calling at any port within the Yangtze River Delta ECA must comply with relevant requirements and regulations. For more details, please refer to the attached Huatai circulars no. 1710 and 1711.

For member’s reference, below is an update on the Chinese ECA timeline -