World Bunkering > News > Industry News > Sulphur levels drop

DNVPS says that it has found a big fall in non-compliant fuel worldwide in the second week of year but the the ARA region still provided the largest percentage of off-spec samples. A DNVPS  study covering standard HFO samples of stems carried out  in the first week of the year had shown that 6.5% of the samples worldwide exceed the new IMO global sulphur limit of 3.50% m/m. The survey excluded low sulphur fuel. 

Two weeks ago DNVPS said in its newsletter also said that 57% of the samples from Rotterdam contained more than 3.50% sulphur. In its latest newsletter the testing agency says that, during the second week of January the percentage of non-compliant samples, had dropped to 3.3% worldwide but ARA remained the area with the highest percentage of samples being supplied with sulphur concentration above 3.50% - Rotterdam 28%, Amsterdam 16% and Antwerp 4% .

The figures suggest a non-compliance problem. The global sulphur limit was reduced to maximum 3.50% in accordance with Regulation 14 of MARPOL Annex VI for ships not being equipped with abatement technology or other compliance methods that are at least as effective in terms of emission reductions.

DNVPS continues to advise owners that the official MARPOL sample to be provided by the supplier is the governing sample regarding compliance with this statutory requirement. It  recommends that ships receiving fuels that exceed the 3.5% limit record the situation through a note of protest.