The Panama Canal Authority has issued advisory in order to inform on a few revised requirements regarding the maneuvering operations in Canal waters, effective as of January 2017.
In particular, since January 1, 2001, the Panama Canal Authority has required vessels maneuvering in Canal waters, to switch from heavy fuel to light fuel. This requirement was included in the revised version of 2016. Beginning in 2017, the aforementioned requirement on maneuvering fuels was removed from the revised version and included in a new one.
In practice, however, operators have told that the regulation was neither readily understood or particularly enforced.
ACP reportedly told that the requirement on maneuvering fuel is not new. It has been in place since 2001, but often overlooked. Therefore, it was removed from Notice to shipping N-10 and included in Notice to Shipping N-1 as of this year. This served the purpose of making it noticeable
This requirement mandates vessels to switch from heavy fuel (even if it meets the 3.5% cap) to light fuel (MGO or MDO) meeting all IMO specs, especially the cap on sulfur content which is currently 3.5%.
This change should not be confused with Emissions Control Area (ECA) compliant bunkers that are now required to transit the Canal.
However, ACP has clarified that this is not the case.
“According to the MARPOL CONVENTION Annex VI, Appendix VII, the Panama Canal is located outside the ECA area (Emission Control Area) so ships transiting the Panama Canal do not have to meet the requirement of maximum 0.1% Sulphur content in the fuel,”
While the regulation is a fuel switching regulation, AMP notes that: “If the vessel is equipped with scrubbers it can burn heavy fuel (residual) that does not exceed a Sulphur content of 3.5% m/m.”
The change to N-1-2017 also defines “Light fuel” and “Heavy fuel” as that classified by ISO 8216-1:2010.
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Source: Panama Canal
