MARPOL 2020 represents a significant change in the marine fuels landscape. Find out what BP is doing and how we are supporting our customers in their journey to 2020 and beyond
In 1973, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed a series of measures to prevent pollution from marine and shipping operations (MARPOL Convention). The Convention was modified in 1997 to address sulphur emissions from ships by introducing a global cap on the sulphur content of marine fuel oil and an additional limit in specific waters, referred to as emission control areas, or ECAs.
The sulphur limit in marine fuels has been reduced over time for both the global limit and within the ECAs. The next step change will reduce the global cap on sulphur content for general shipping from 3.50%wt to 0.50%wt from 1st January 2020. This is commonly referred to as MARPOL 2020.
Implementation of this latest development of the MARPOL Convention will re-shape the marine fuels landscape.