Preface
1 The primary objective of the Guidelines is to establish an agreed method to monitor
the average sulphur contents of fuel oils supplied for use on board ships taking
into account the sulphur limit as required by regulation 14 of MARPOL Annex
VI.
Introduction
2 The basis for these Guidelines is provided in regulation 14.2 of MARPOL Annex
VI. While regulation 14.2 of MARPOL Annex
VI only refers to residual fuel, it was agreed to also monitor the
average sulphur content of distillate fuel.
3 Following the entry into force of the 0.50% m/m sulphur content limit on 1 January
2020, MEPC 74 recognized that some of the compliant fuel oils may fall within the
residual fuel category whereas other compliant fuel oils may fall within the
distillate fuel category, thus agreed that the worldwide average sulphur content
should be monitored as a consequence of the sulphur limits required by regulation 14
of MARPOL Annex VI.
4 In view of the above, the three following categories should be used for monitoring
the worldwide average sulphur contents of fuel oil:
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.1 fuel oil not exceeding 0.10%;
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.2 fuel oil not exceeding 0.50%, but above 0.10%; and
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.3 fuel oil exceeding 0.50%.
Definitions
5 For the purpose of these Guidelines the following definitions should apply:
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.1 Residual fuel:
Fuel oil for combustion purposes delivered to and used on board
ships with a kinematic viscosity at 40°C greater than 11.00 centistokesfootnote (mm2/s).
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.2 Distillate fuel:
Fuel oil for combustion purposes delivered to and used on board ships with a
kinematic viscosity at 40°C lower than or equal to 11.00 centistokesfootnote (mm2/s).
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.3 Provider of sampling and testing services:
A company that, on a commercial basis, provides testing and sampling services
of bunker fuels delivered to ships for the purpose of assessing quality
parameters of these fuels, including the sulphur content.
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.4 Reference value Aws_ECA:
The value of the worldwide average sulphur content for the total fuel oil
(distillate and residual) with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.10%
supplied for use on board ships, based on the first 3 years of data
collected and as determined on the basis of paragraphs 6 to 12 of these
Guidelines.
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.5 Reference value Aws_Non-ECA:
The value of the worldwide average sulphur content for the total fuel oil
(distillate and residual) with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.50%, but
above 0.10%, supplied for use on board ships, based on the first 3 years of
data collected and as determined on the basis of paragraphs 6 to 12 of these
Guidelines.
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.6 Reference value Aws_regulation4:
The value of the worldwide average sulphur content for the total fuel oil
(distillate and residual) with a sulphur content exceeding 0.50% supplied
for use on board ships, based on the first 3 years of data collected and as
determined on the basis of paragraphs 6 to 12 of these Guidelines.
Monitoring and calculation of yearly and 3-year rolling averages
Monitoring
6 Monitoring should be based on calculation of average sulphur content of combined
residual and distillate fuels on the basis of sampling and testing by independent
testing services. Restarting for year 2020 the average sulphur content of the three
categories given in paragraph 4 should be calculated. After 3 years the reference
values for monitoring will be set as described in paragraph 12.
Calculation of yearly averages
7 The basis of monitoring is the calculation, on an annual basis, of the average
sulphur content of residual fuel and distillate fuel in each of the three categories
in paragraph 4.
8 The calculation of the average sulphur content is executed as follows:
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For a certain calendar year, the sulphur contents of the samples analysed
footnote (one sample for each delivery of which the
sulphur content is determined by fuel oil analysis) are recorded. The
sulphur contents of the fuel oil samples analysed are multiplied by their
corresponding mass, then summed, and then divided by the total mass of fuel
oil analysed within each category as given in paragraph 4.
9 The mathematical formula for the method of calculation described is given in the
appendix to these Guidelines.
10 As a basis for well-informed decisions, a graphical representation of the
distribution of the global sulphur content plotted against the quantity of fuel oils
associated with each incremental sulphur content range should be made available each
year:
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.1 residual and distillate fuels for sulphur content below or equal to 1.00%:
in terms of the % sulphur in increments of 0.10%; and
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.2 residual and distillate fuels for sulphur content above 1.00%: in terms of
the % sulphur in increments of 0.50%.
Three-year rolling average
11 The 3-year rolling averages should be calculated as follows:
Setting of the reference values
12 The reference values of the worldwide average sulphur content for each category of
fuel oil given in paragraph 4 supplied for use on board ships should be
Awx, where x = ws_ECA, ws_Non-ECA, ws_regulation4 and Awx
= Acr as calculated in January of the year following the first 3 years in
which data were collected on the basis of these Guidelines. Aw should be
expressed as a percentage.
Providers of sampling and testing services
13 There are presently three providers of sampling and testing services under these
Guidelines.
14 Any additional providers of sampling and testing services will be approved by MEPC
in accordance with the following criteria:
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.1 be subject to the approval of MEPC, which should apply these criteria;
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.2 be provided with a technical and managerial staff of qualified
professionals providing adequate geographical coverage and local
representation to ensure quality services in a timely manner;
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.3 provide services governed by a documented Code of Ethics;
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.4 be independent as regards commercial interest in the outcome of
monitoring;
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.5 implement and maintain an internationally recognized quality
system, certified by an independent auditing body, which ensures
reproducibility and repeatability of services which are internally audited,
monitored and carried out under controlled conditions; and
.6 take a significant number of samples on an annual basis for
the purpose of globally monitoring average sulphur content of residual and
distillate fuels.
Standardized method of calculation
15 Each of the providers of sampling and testing services should, before
31 January of the following year, provide the necessary information for the
calculation of the average sulphur content of the residual and distillate fuels to
the Secretariat of IMO or another agreed third party on the basis of a mutually
agreed format, approved by MEPC. This party will process the information and will
provide the outcome in the agreed format to MEPC. From the viewpoint of competitive
positions, the information involved should be considered sensitive.
APPENDIX
CALCULATION OF AVERAGE SULPHUR CONTENT BASED ON QUANTITY
Note: wherever "all deliveries" are mentioned, this is meant to refer
to all deliveries sampled and tested for sulphur and being taken into account for
the purpose of monitoring.