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IMO Secretary-General, Koji Sekimizu [pictured], says he believes a study of the availability of low sulphur fuel to meet bunker demand in 2020 should be brought forward.

Speaking to Portnews IAA, Sekimizu is quoted as saying: "I have suggested that the study of availability of low sulphur fuel should be accelerated. I’m sure that next year the Marine Environment Protection Committee will discuss this matter seriously and I hope that we will carry out important meaningful study for availability of low sulphur fuel."

Under existing regulations, global limits on the sulphur content of marine fuel are set to be reduced from 3.50 percent to 0.50 percent on January 1, 2020.

From January 1, 2015, sulphur limits within Emission Control Areas (ECAs) covering the Baltic, North Sea, North America and the Caribbean Sea will be cut to 0.10 percent, but Sekimizu says he is keen for a strict sulphur cap to still be applied in these areas. "We have to apply stringent sulphur regulations. As far as I understand, that could be achieved," Sekimizu said in the interview.

Commenting on the 2020 sulphur limit, Sekimizu said that a strict global requirement to reduce sulphur emissions should be imposed worldwide, but added that a 'careful evaulation' may be required to look into whether the oil industry will be able to supply sufficient low sulphur fuel to meet demand in 2020.

"Sometime in 2015 we will evaluate, for example, how much clear energy will be made available for international shipping by 2020 and if the oil industry will be able to provide the required amount of low sulphur fuel. So we need to evaluate the total amount of energy required for the shipping industry by 2020 and then we'll take a decision of what should be done to meet low sulphur regulation by 2020," Sekimizu said.

IMO's 66th Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting is scheduled to take place between March 31 and April 4, 2014.