Schipping reduces emissions
New exhaust gas regulations in the Baltic

Since May 19th 2006, there has been a clampdown in the Baltic Sea. As a consequence of the MARPOL Annex VI, new exhaust gas regulations for vessels are now in force. The Hanseatic Lloyd Reederei was prepared for this. This is of course an advantage, because all charterers suppose that the vessels chartered for voyages in the Baltic already comply with the latest regulations.

Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention is already been in force since May 2005. The annex to the”Convention for Protection of the Marine Environment through the Prevention of Pollution from Ships” regulates air pollution from seagoing vessels the engines of which make a not insignificant contribution to the emission of pollutants, although shipping is already the most environmentallyfriendly means of transport.

Annex VI limits the emissions of pollutants, and here in particular those of nitric oxides NOx and sulphur oxides SOx that have increased strongly in recent years. The reduction in emissions stipulated in rule 13 relates to all vessel diesel engines with an output of more than 130 KW that were built or underwent major conversion work after 1st January 2000. It is however difficult to control the emission of pollutants through the design of the engine. For this reason, Annex VI stipulates limit values for the fuel used on board.

MARPOL prescribes the use of low-sulphur fuels in order to reduce the emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx). The regulation provides for a maximum value of 4.5 percent by weight. The average sulphur content of the fuels used throughout the world is 2.7 percent by weight (this states how many grams of a substance are contained in 100 grams of a mixture).

Special area Baltic Sea

In rule 14, the MARPOL Annex VI additionally specifies so-called SOx Emission Control Areas (SECA), in which a maximum sulphur content of 1.5 % applies. From May 2006 onwards these areas include the Baltic Sea and from August 2007 – according to EU directive – also the North Sea with the English Channel. Vessels sailing these areas must thus either use fuel with a low sulphur content or have a technologically approved exhaust gas cleaning system on board in order to reduce the SOx emissions.

Vessels that are travelling in the Baltic Sea from the deadline onwards must comply with the new limit values and burn low sulphur fuel. The vessels of the Hanseatic Lloyd fleet have been fitted partial with newest engines and IAPP-certification, for deployment in the Baltic they will in future be operated with low-sulphur fuels. For this reason, both types of fuel must be stored to be available for operation of the vessel. The same also applies to the lubricating oil for the cylinders, which in the case of low-sulphur fuels must also be TBN-reduced. In practice a part of the fuel tanks on board is therefore reserved exclusively for low-sulphur fuels.

Vessels that use different types of fuel must, when entering a SECA, ensure that the propulsion units on board are operated with low-sulphur fuel, in which case the time of switching over to the new fuel as well as the corresponding quantities contained in the tanks must be noted in writing in the vessel’s log or in the oil log-book.

Strict controls Verification of the use of low-sulphur fuel must be stated on a bunker certificate to be issued by the fuel supplier, which specifies the corresponding sulphur content. This must be kept on board for a period of three years; a bunker sample is additionally taken and must also be stored for one year in a suitable place to which access can be gained at any time.

The ship owner and ship operator are responsible for compliance with all new limit values. Any infringement may be punished by fines of up to 50,000 USD.

Especially strict regulations apply from 1st January 2007 in California. This US state – which has always been consistently firm in questions of environmental legislation – prescribes that within a coastal zone of 24 sm all vessels operated with navy marine oil or marine gas oil must comply with a sulphur content limit of 0.5 %.

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