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Marine Energy Consulting Ltd. (MECL) and 20|20 Marine Energy, announced on Wednesday that they will collaborate to produce a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of MARPOL Annex VI global sulphur regulations on the shipping industry.

The study is to include a detailed impact assessment of the regulations, as well as insights into compliance solutions, enabling recipients to make more informed decisions when developing strategies to both manage the transition, and the future.

The regulations, which mandate the use of bunkers with a sulphur content of less than 0.5% on a global basis, will be implemented in either 2020 or 2025, a decision which may be taken by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) at its forthcoming Marine Environmental Protection Committee meeting (MEPC 70) this month.

"The study, which will be available early in 2017, will be of value to all stakeholders involved and invested in the marine fuel supply chain. It will benefit refiners that need to understand how the legislation will impact demand, fuel suppliers, port authorities and operators that require insight as to where to invest in infrastructure based on the demand for a range of products; as well as ship owners that need a broad knowledge of viable compliance solutions and the impact the change in legislation will have on their operations and profitability," the two firms said in a statement.

"The majority of people currently expect that the global sulphur cap will be implemented in 2020, which leaves just over three years to prepare in an increasingly complex market, fraught with questions and risk," commented Adrian Tolson, Senior Partner, 20|20 Marine Energy.

"This is coupled with a huge uncertainty in the shipping industry on how the regulation will impact supply, demand and availability, product compatibility and specifications, future pricing, global infrastructure, as well as the choice of compliance solutions available, and how they can be financed."

The MECL - 20|20 study will cover:

- Fuel supply, demand and availability on a region-by-region basis by types of bunkers including LNG and other alternative fuels through to 2035

- The new make-up of the fuel supply chain, including fuel prices, differentials, compatibility and quality standards

- The viability of abatement technology uptake and its financing

- New desulphuring technologies and associated products

- Port infrastructure, storage and investment

- Potential enforcement regimes and associated sanctions

"Will there be enough distillates to meet demand? What will happen to residual fuel? How rapidly will the global LNG infrastructure be developed? How can scrubbers be financed? These are just a few of the questions that need to be answered," said Robin Meech, Managing Director of MECL.

"This joint MECL - 20|20 study will bring all this information together to comprehensively address and provide insight and greater clarity for stakeholders in the marine fuel supply chain, which will be an essential input to better strategic decision-making," Meech added.

The study is to be made available as a multi-client report, with an option of a seminar to interpret the study's findings to each client's specific needs.