Eyes set on 2020

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the European Union (EU) have addressed concerns raised regarding the effects of emissions from engines, boilers and inert gas generators used in ships, particularly SOx, on the environment. New laws have been introduced obliging shipping companies to reduce emissions, either through primary (using low SOx fuel oil) or secondary methods (devices for the cleaning of gases before they are released into the atmosphere, known as scrubbers).

Implementation of these types of significant measures is one of the most effective ways of drastically reducing emissions arising from the activities of the maritime sector and mitigating their impact. The control of SOx emissions and particulate matter will be applied to combustion equipment and all fuel oil devices on board. These measures will be in place  in ECA (Emission Control Areas). The controls will be put into practice by using low sulphur content fuels loaded, transported and subsequently burned, or by removing contaminants before they are released into the atmosphere. These sulphur (S) limits are subject to a series of changes, in accordance with Rule 14 of the MARPOL Convention.

Annex VI of MARPOL includes the rules established by the IMO for the prevention of air pollution caused by maritime transport. The MEPC (Maritime Environment Protection Committee) 70, after evaluating the availability of fuel oil, decided that the fuel oil standard of 0.5% of S should enter into force on 1st January 2020 (Resolution MEPC 289 70), the limit for ECA areas having already been set at 0.1% from 1st January 2015.

Management alternatives for high sulphur fuels provided by Tradebe’s MARPOL Service

For adaptation to the standard and among the different existing alternatives, Tradebe provides the following solutions:

• Use of low sulphur distillate fuels. Tradebe has the means necessary for the removal and management of high sulphur fuels from the ships’ tanks, ensuring their correct cleaning for use with other fuels with the required specifications.

• Use of exhaust gas cleaning equipment. Tradebe has waste management services in port dedicated to the cleaning of high sulphur exhaust gases, metals and other pollutants that cannot be discharged into the sea.

Whatever the situation, MARPOL waste is collected and managed in our facilities, where it is dealt with in a comprehensive and sustainable manner in line with treatments approved by the environmental authorities.

Ports where our services are available: Avilés, Girón, Santander, Bilbao, Pasajes, Barcelona, Tarragona.

For more information please, contact us.