Port state authorities to crack down on sulfur compliance

Written by Nick Blenkey
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NOVEMBER 14, 2016 — The Danish Maritime Authority says that, in response to a Danish/Dutch proposal, the two major port state control regimes — the Paris MoU and the Tokyo MoU — will increase their focus on sulfur limit regulations. The decision has been made on the basis of a Danish/Dutch proposal.

Port State control authorities across 45 countries and five continents – South America, North America, Europe, Asia and Australia – will carry out a \ Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) in 2018 focusing on air pollution from ships.

“We have achieved two important results,” said Peter Krog-Meyer, Senior Adviser of the Danish Maritime Authority. “First, all over the world there will be even more focus on whether ships meet the sulfur limits. Second, it is a strong signal that so many important port States now clearly show that we have joined forces in our efforts to enhance the enforcement of the sulfur provisions across the borders.”

Cooperation on efficient enforcement has become even more important after IMO agreed last week that a global sulfur limit of 0.5 per cent will enter into force in 2020.

The 2018 campaign is the result of efforts made by Denmark to ensure enhanced international focus on enforcement. However, since early in 2015 , especially low limits have been introduced in SECAs (Sulfur Emission Control Areas, and the Danish authorities are constantly engaged in work on both the political and the technological side of efficient enforcement.

“In Denmark, we have been striving to ensure stronger enforcement for years, and the 2018 inspection campaign is merely one element of much greater efforts that are already being made,” says Mr. Krog-Meyer. “This process will be speeded up in 2017 after the IMO decision on a global sulfur limit in 2020.”

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