Port State Control to Focus on Sulphur Limit Regulations

Port State control authorities across 45 countries and 5 continents – South America, North America, Europe, Asia and Australia – have agreed to carry out a so-called Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) in 2018 focusing on air pollution from ships.

The focus on the sulphur limit regulations will be increased through the two major port state control regimes, the Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU.

“We have achieved two important results. Firstly, all over the world there will be even more focus on whether ships meet the sulphur limits. Secondly, 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 sulphur provisions across the borders,” Peter Krog-Meyer, Senior Adviser of the Danish Maritime Authority, said.

Cooperation on efficient enforcement has become even more important after United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed last week that a global sulphur limit of 0.5 per cent will enter into force in 2020.

The Danish Maritime Authority said that the 2018 campaign is the result of efforts made by Denmark “to ensure enhanced international focus on enforcement.”

A Concentrated Inspection Campaign means that all 45 countries covered by the Port State Control schemes carry out an especially thorough examination of a chosen area, such as sulphur, when their Port State Control Officers embark foreign ships.

The efforts made will increase compliance with regulations and contribute to ship crews’ awareness of the new regulations and the consequences of any violations.