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The Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China has confirmed that it will be implementing a directive in April concerning the permitted maximum sulphur content of marine fuel for ships operating in the key ports of the Yangtze River Delta: Shanghai, Zhoushan, Ningbo, Suzhou, Zhanjiagang, Changshu and Taicang, Nantong.

A meeting to discuss the new rules was held on January 19 in Shanghai, which was attended by the Deputy Minister of Transport, He Jianzhong, and the vice mayor of Shanghai, Jiang Zhuoqing.

According to China's Ministry of Transport, the rules will be implemented in two phases. From April 1, it will be compulsory for ships docking at the heart of the port to use fuel with a sulphur content of less than 0.5%. It will also encourage the use of fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 0.1% for ships moored at the dock, and encourage ships entering Emissions Control Areas (ECAs) to use fuel with a sulphur content that is less than 0.5%.

During the second phase, which is to be determined after a further assessment of the implementation of control measures, vessels entering ECAs should use fuel with a sulphur content lower than 0.5%. During mooring, ships should not use fuel with a sulphur content above 0.1%.

January 2016 regulation

On December 1, 2015, China announced the establishment of ship ECAs in the Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Delta and the Bohai Bay rim area.

The regulation applies to all merchant ships navigating, anchored or under operation in the waters of the control areas, except for naval ships, sport ships and fishing vessels.

With effect from January 1, 2016, ships should strictly follow the requirements of current international conventions or local laws/regulations (whichever is stricter) on the emission control of SOx, particulates and NOx. If the port condition allows, ports within control areas may implement stricter requirements than current conventions, regulations such as requiring use of fuel with 0.5% m/m sulphur content or below.

The implementation schedule for the new requirements is as follows:

- From January 1, 2016, some ports (if the port condition allows) within the control areas may implement the requirement for use of fuel with 0.5% m/m sulphur content or below when ships are alongside or at anchor. Note that this is for any port within the control area, not just the key/core ports;

- From January 1, 2017, key/core ports of control areas shall implement the requirements for use of fuel with 0.5% m/m sulphur content or below when ships are alongside or at anchor;

- From January 1, 2018, all ports within control areas shall implement requirements for use of fuel with 0.5% m/m sulphur content or below when ships are alongside or at anchor; and

- From January 1, 2019, ships entering into control areas shall use fuel with 0.5% m/m sulphur content or below.

It should be noted that, following an assessment of the effects of the above, actions China will possibly implement requirements for use of fuel with 0.1% m/m sulphur content or below after 31 December 2019.

The requirements for ships at berth or at anchor are applicable from one hour after ships are berthed to one hour before departure. Ships may use other alternative measures to reduce emissions, such as shore power, clean energy, scrubbers, etc.

Hong Kong regulation

Hong Kong's exisiting 'Air Pollution Control (Ocean Going Vessels) (Fuel at Berth) Regulation' became effective on July 1, 2015.

The compliant fuels under the new regulation are low-sulphur marine fuel with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.5%, liquefied natural gas and any other fuels approved by the Director of Environmental Protection.