Zhejiang ECA Low Sulphur Requirements Come into Force

All vessels calling at any port within the Zhejiang area must use fuel with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.5%m/m when berthing, effective September 1, 2017, marine and energy insurer Standard Club P&I informed.

Zhejiang Emission Control Area (ECA) in China includes the ports of Ningbo, Zhoushan, Jiaxing, Taizhou.

According to the latest requirements from the Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) of Zhejiang Province, the rule excludes warships/military ships, sport ships/boats, or fishing ships/vessels calling the ports. The periods of one hour after and before departure are excluded as well.

“Members are therefore recommended to ensure that their ships due for calling at any port within the Zhejiang ECA comply with relevant requirements and regulations,” Standard Club P&I said.

Further low sulphur requirements in the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta and Bohai Sea Area are scheduled to come into force starting from January 1, 2018, and will apply to all ports in the mentioned ECAs for the period before ship berthing and after its departure.

The Standard Club’s data shows that, starting from January 1, 2019, the mentioned areas would see the low sulphur requirements applied in sea area, inland waters and all ports in ECAs before the ships enter the areas.