European Commission – Focus on Bunker Suppliers in Sulfur Regs Enforcement
As a part of its obligations under MARPOL Annex VI, the European Commission (EC) is seeking to undertake a new study that will focus on bunker suppliers.
Bunkers burned within Europe’s emissions control area (ECA) are currently limited to a maximum sulfur content of 0.10 percent.
As per regulation Directive 1999/32/EC, the sulfur content of marine fuels is regulated by Directive 1999/32/EC in Europe. Later, amendments were adopted in 2012 to incorporate the sulfur related requirements of MARPOL Annex VI. Implementing Decision 2015/253 lays down the rules concerning sampling strategies and reporting for enforcement purposes.
The European Commission wrote in its tender specifications:
“In order to ensure cost-efficient and coherent implementation and enforcement by Member States of the set of standards for marine fuel ‘quality’, the monitoring of the role of each player in the fuel market is essential, including on fuel suppliers.”
“While until now the focus of the Commission measures was primarily dedicated to enforce the Directive’s provisions mainly on ship operators, it is now time to start collecting evidence and data on the performance of fuel suppliers.”
A call for tenders for the project, “Current practices in enforcement of EU marine fuel suppliers and options for improvement under the scope of Directive 1999/32/EC,” was published on Friday.
“This contract is aimed at clarifying or screening how Member States competent authorities act in respect of fuel oil suppliers, also very relevant in view of the requirement on global cap entering into force in 2020,” the EC wrote.
The tender outlines four main tasks for the project:
- Provide an analysis clarifying and screening how Member States competent authorities act in respect of enforcement of fuel oil suppliers in their territory. Check the alignment level with the reporting provisions of Decision 2015/253.
- Overview of Member States actions and measures to ensure compliant fuel availability and the Member States strategy to phase out the non-compliant fuel by redirection to other fuel markets.
- Assessment and quantification of the current sulphur related quality problems with marine fuel supplied in EU ports, and their impact on 2020 low sulphur availability.
- Interaction and Coordination with Member States and relevant stakeholders of the ESSF.
Interested parties have until September 9, 2016 to submit a tender.
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Source: Ship & Bunker, European Commission
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