Hong Kong, Taiwan to Meet Chinese ECA Requirements

While all eyes are on 2020 and the introduction of the IMO’s global sulphur cap, Hong Kong and Taiwan are aligning their emission regulations with the Chinese Emission Control Area (ECA) requirements and will implement a local 0.50% sulphur cap from 1 January 2019, said Gard.

A release from the maritime insurer said that the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee’s 73rd session (MEPC73) has just ended, and with it, so did all speculations about a potential delay of the global 0.50% sulphur cap. The rules apply from 1 January 2020 - and they will be enforced.

Hong Kong’s current Fuel at Berth Regulation requiring ships to burn fuel with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.50% while at berth is soon to be replaced by one that will extend the standard to ships operating in Hong Kong waters, said Gard.

Hong Kong’s Environmental Protection Department (EPD) recently notified the industry of its approval of the new “Air Pollution Control (Fuel for Vessels) Regulation”. This will mean that from 1 January 2019, ships not fitted with scrubbers will be required to burn fuel with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.50% within Hong Kong waters, irrespective of whether they are sailing or at berth.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Transport and Communication (MOTC) has also announced it will implement a 0.50% sulphur cap one year ahead of the IMO.

According to Gard’s local correspondent, there will be no designated domestic ECAs in Taiwan but from 1 January 2019, ships not fitted with scrubbers must burn fuel with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.50% when entering its international commercial port areas.

In September 2015, China designated the Pearl River and Yangtze River Deltas, and Bohai-rim Waters as domestic ECAs and announced a plan for implementing a 0.50% sulphur cap in these areas, Gard release said.