Asia/Pacific News
China MSA Issues Guidance for Supervision and Administration of New ECA
The China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) has issued a guidance notice to local MSA offices on supervision and administration of China's new Emission Control Areas (ECAs), detailing the requirements for ships calling ports within ECAs and consequences of non-compliance, which Huatai Insurance Agency & Consultant Service Ltd. (Huatai) says it summarised in a circular.
In cases of non-compliance, the consequences of warning education, correction of breaches, or detention, in addition to the possibility of fines are said to be possible.
As Ship & Bunker has previously reported, a vessel found to be in breach of China's new ECA rules can be fined between RMB10,000 and RMB100,000 ($1,550 to $15,500).
Use of Low Sulfur Fuel for Compliance
For vessels said to be using low sulfur fuel, Huatai says that the MSA will be verifying required vessel records and documents, including engine log, bunker delivery notes, fuel change-over procedures, engine room logbook records, as well as fuel oil sampling and analysis.
Ships are said to be required to keep bunker delivery notes on board for a minimum of three years, as well as a fuel sample for at least one year until the fuel has been used up, with failure to do so resulting in a possible penalty of RMB2,000 to RMB10,000 ($300 to $1,500).
Alternative Power Sources
Vessels using dual fuel, clean energy sources, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), or emissions reduction technology, as well as after-treatment equipment, are also required to meet specific log book requirements and show appropriate certifications upon request.
Ships are also said to be required to give priority to use shore power where possible, and are required to record the date, time, and operator in the vessel's engine log book.
If documentation for alternative power and compliance sources are deemed unsatisfactory upon on-site inspection, a full examination of "the shore power arrangement, clean energy fuel system or emissions reduction technology will be carried out," says Huatai.
Breaches in Extraordinary Circumstances
Huatai explains that if ships are unable to comply with ECA requirements as a result of efforts to protect ship safety, carry out a rescue of life at sea, or as a result of ship or equipment damage or failure, "the ship should report the situation immediately to the nearest MSA authority, and record all relevant information in the ship's logbook."
In December, Ship & Bunker reported that the Chinese Government had announced that it will establish ECAs within its waters, putting a 0.5 percent sulfur content cap on bunkers used within the zones from January 1, 2019, and mandatory at-berth regulations from 2017 - the first such zones outside of Europe and North America.
