Regulation 14 – Sulphur Oxides (SOx) and Particulate Matter
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Regulation 14 – Sulphur Oxides (SOx) and Particulate Matter

 General requirements

1 The sulphur content of fuel oil used or carried for use on board a ship shall not exceed 0.50% m/m.

 2 The worldwide average sulphur content of residual fuel oil supplied for use on board ships shall be monitored taking into account the guidelines developed by the Organization.footnote

 Requirements within emission control areas

3 For the purpose of this regulation, an emission control area shall be any sea area, including any port area, designated by the Organization in accordance with the criteria and procedures set forth in appendix III to this Annex. The emission control areas under this regulation are:

  • .1 the Baltic Sea area as defined in regulation 1.11.2 of Annex I of the present Convention;

  • .2 the North Sea area as defined in regulation 1.14.6 of Annex V of the present Convention;

  • .3 the North American Emission Control Area, which means the area described by the coordinates provided in appendix VII to this Annex; and

  • .4 the United States Caribbean Sea Emission Control Area, which means the area described by the coordinates provided in appendix VII to this Annex.

 4 While a ship is operating within an emission control area, the sulphur content of fuel oil used on board that ship shall not exceed 0.10% m/m.

 5 The sulphur content of fuel oil referred to in paragraph 1 and paragraph 4 of this regulation shall be documented by its supplier as required by regulation 18 of this Annex.

 6 Those ships using separate fuel oils to comply with paragraph 4 of this regulation and entering or leaving an emission control area set forth in paragraph 3 of this regulation shall carry a written procedure showing how the fuel oil changeover is to be done, allowing sufficient time for the fuel oil service system to be fully flushed of all fuel oils exceeding the applicable sulphur content specified in paragraph 4 of this regulation prior to entry into an emission control area. The volume of low sulphur fuel oils in each tank as well as the date, time and position of the ship when any fuel oil changeover operation is completed prior to the entry into an emission control area or commenced after exit from such an area shall be recorded in such logbook or electronic record bookfootnote as prescribed by the Administration.

 7 During the first 12 months immediately following entry into force of an amendment designating a specific emission control area under paragraph 3 of this regulation, ships operating in that emission control area are exempt from the requirements in paragraphs 4 and 6 of this regulation and from the requirements of paragraph 5 of this regulation insofar as they relate to paragraph 4 of this regulation.

 In-use and onboard fuel oil sampling and testing

8 If the competent authority of a Party requires the in-use or onboard sample to be analysed, it shall be done in accordance with the verification procedure set forth in appendix VI to this Annex to determine whether the fuel oil being used or carried for use on board meets the requirements in paragraph 1 or paragraph 4 of this regulation. The in-use sample shall be drawn taking into account the guidelines developed by the Organization.footnote The onboard sample shall be drawn taking into account the guidelines developed by the Organization.footnote

 9 The sample shall be sealed by the representative of the competent authority with a unique means of identification installed in the presence of the ship’s representative. The ship shall be given the option of retaining a duplicate sample.

 In-use fuel oil sampling point

10 For each ship subject to regulations 5 and 6 of this Annex, sampling point(s) shall be fitted or designated for the purpose of taking representative samples of the fuel oil being used on board the ship taking into account the guidelines developed by the Organization.footnote

 11 For a ship constructed before 1 April 2022, the sampling point(s) referred to in paragraph 10 shall be fitted or designated not later than the first renewal survey as identified in regulation 5.1.2 of this Annex on or after 1 April 2023.

 12 The requirements of paragraphs 10 and 11 above are not applicable to a fuel oil service system for a low-flashpoint fuel for combustion purposes for propulsion or operation on board the ship.

 13 The competent authority of a Party shall, as appropriate, utilize the sampling point(s) which is(are) fitted or designated for the purpose of taking representative sample(s) of the fuel oil being used on board in order to verify that the fuel oil complies with this regulation. Taking fuel oil samples by the competent authority of the Party shall be performed as expeditiously as possible without causing the ship to be unduly delayed.

Parent topic: Chapter 3 - Requirements for Control of Emissions from Ships
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