China – New Regulation setting Emission Control Areas

14 December 2015

Members proceeding to ports in China should note that the Ministry of Transport has issued a new Regulation that establishes three Emission Control Areas (ECA) and sets out limits on the sulphur content of fuel to be used by vessels at certain times during berthing and whilst in the ECA.  The three areas cover the following areas:-

  1. Pearl River Delta, including Shenzhen, Gaungzhou and Zhuhai
  2. Yangtze River Delta, including Shanghai, Ningbo- Zhoushan, Suzhou and Nantong
  3. Bohai–rim Waters, including Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Tangshan and Huanghua

The Correspondent, Huatai Insurance Agency & Consultant Service Limited, has issued a detailed Circular clarifying the new Regulation and the time table for implementing the different sulphur content requirements. It seems that most port authorities intend to maintain existing sulphur limits with the changes being implemented from 1 January 2017, with Shanghai being a possible exception.

A copy of the Correspondent’s Circular with further details can be accessed by clicking here.

The Club will provide a further update as and when this is available.