Marshall Islands Issues Low Sulfur MGO Fuel Testing Guidance
The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Maritime Administrator has issued a Marine Safety Advisory, which provides guidance on the testing of Low Sulfur Marine Gas Oil (LSMGO) fuel oil by port States in order to ensure ships are using fuel with no more than 0.10 percent sulfur content for MARPOL compliance.
“Testing for LSMGO compliance is becoming increasingly prevalent in Emission Control Areas (ECAs) in both the United States (US) and European Union (EU),” explains the advisory, which provides guidance related to these ECAs and the recent RMI experience in relation to these zones.
The administrator says it has been receiving reports of LSMGO testing issues, and advises all operators to ensure the importance of receiving sealed bunker delivery samples and having accepted procedures in place to obtain onboard spot sampling is understood.
The advisory highlights the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Circular MEPC.1/Circ.864, Guidelines For Onboard Sampling For The Verification Of The Sulphur Content Of The Fuel Oil Used On Board Ships, which was issued in December.
“The Administrator recommends that vessel operators and Masters have fuel oil sampling plans in place should a PSCO request an onboard sample,” states the advisory.
“The plans should ensure that fuel oil be sampled or taken from a point that is carefully considered by the Master and crew; where the risk of contamination from other fuels and sediments is extremely unlikely in order to provide an accurate sample for LSMGO testing.”
The RMI administrator also advises that plans should also designate a ship’s representative responsible for retaining and securing the spot sampling container in accordance with Article 6 of EU Decision 2015/253.
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Source: IRI
