Russian ports of the Baltic Sea subject to fuel sampling for sulphur content (document)
Port control within Baltic Sea Port Authority will include fuel sampling for sulphur content in compliance with the RF Transport Ministry’s document of May 12, 2015 No 05-04-1247, BSPA head Peotr Parinov was informed by Yuri Kostin, Deputy Head of the Federal Marine and River Transport Agency (Rosmorrechflot).
Sampling will be reportedly financed by BSPA.
According to Rosmorrechflot, samples will be taken from vessels’ supply tanks from which fuel is taken for main engines. The amount of fuel taken as samples is to be determined in compliance with ISO 17025 or similar standard.
If a vessel leaves a port of Russia before obtaining a result showing violations of Regulation 14 of MARPOL Annex VI, the flag administration or the authorities of the next port of call will be addressed in order to take measures against such a vessel.
“If this happens to a vessel flying the flag of the Russian Federation, we think it necessary to inform the Federal Agency for Transport Supervision,” the letter says.
From 1 January 2015, ships trading in designated emission control areas have to use on board fuel oil with a sulphur content of no more than 0.10% The emission control areas established under MARPOL Annex VI for SOx are: the Baltic Sea area; the North Sea area; the North American area (covering designated coastal areas off the United States and Canada); and the United States Caribbean Sea area.
The letter is available here >>>>
