Revoked by MEPC.192(61)
Resolution
MEPC.183(59)
2009 GUIDELINES FOR MONITORING THE WORLDWIDE AVERAGE SULPHUR CONTENT OF
RESIDUAL FUEL OILS SUPPLIED FOR USE
(Adopted on 17 July 2009)
THE
MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE,
RECALLING
Article 38(a) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization
concerning the function of the Marine Environment Protection Committee
conferred upon it by international conventions for the prevention and control
of marine pollution,
RECALLING
ALSO that MARPOL Annex VI entered into force on 19 May 2005,
RECALLING
FURTHER resolution MEPC.82(43) by which the
Committee adopted the Guidelines for monitoring the worldwide average sulphur
content of residual fuel oils supplied for use on board ships,
NOTING
that the revised MARPOL Annex VI was adopted by resolution MEPC.176(58) which
is expected to enter into force on 1 July 2010,
NOTING
ALSO that regulation 14.2 of the revised MARPOL Annex VI requires monitoring of
the worldwide average sulphur content of residual fuel oil supplied for use on
board ships, taking into account guidelines developed by the Organization,
RECOGNIZING
the need to revise the Guidelines for monitoring the worldwide average sulphur
content of residual fuel oils supplied for use on board ships, in accordance
with provisions of the revised MARPOL Annex VI,
HAVING
CONSIDERED the 2009 Guidelines for monitoring the worldwide average sulphur
content of residual fuel oil supplied for use on board ships prepared by the
Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases at its thirteenth session,
1.
ADOPTS the 2009 Guidelines for monitoring the worldwide average sulphur content
of residual fuel oils supplied for use on board ships, as set out in the Annex
to the present resolution;
2.
URGES Member Governments and interested organizations to make available the
resources and expertise necessary for the implementation of the Guidelines from
1 July 2010; and
3.
REVOKES the Guidelines adopted by resolution MEPC.82(43),
as from this date.
Annex.
2009 GUIDELINES FOR MONITORING THE WORLDWIDE AVERAGE SULPHUR CONTENT OF
RESIDUAL FUEL OILS SUPPLIED FOR USE ON BOARD SHIPS
Preface
1.
The primary objective of the Guidelines is to establish an agreed method to
monitor the average sulphur content of residual fuel oils supplied for use on
board ships.
Introduction
2.
The basis for these Guidelines is provided in regulation 14.2 of Annex VI of
MARPOL and in Conference Resolution 4 (in MP/CONF.3/35), on monitoring the
worldwide average sulphur content of residual fuel oil supplied for use on
board ships. Among the emissions addressed by Annex VI are emissions resulting
from the combustion of fuels containing sulphur. An upper limit for the sulphur
content of fuels was set and it was further decided to monitor the average
sulphur content of fuel.
3.
The independent testing companies analyse over 100,000 samples annually, which
cover between 25% and 35% of all deliveries. From the data gathered by these
testing services, the current average figures for the sulphur content of
residual fuels can be derived. These figures are publicized regularly and are
currently in the order of 2.4% by mass1.
Definitions
4.
For the purpose of these Guidelines the following definitions should apply:
(1)
Residual fuel:
Fuel oil for
combustion purposes delivered to and used on board ships with a kinematic
viscosity at 50˚C greater than or equal to 30.0 centistoke2.
(2)
Provider of sampling and testing services:
A company that,
on a commercial basis, provides testing and sampling services of bunker fuels
delivered to ships for the purpose of assessing quality parameters of these
fuels, including the sulphur content.
(3)
Reference value Aw:
The value of the
worldwide average sulphur content in residual fuel oils supplied for use on
board ships, based on the first three years of data collected and as determined
on the basis of paragraphs 4 and 5 of these Guidelines.
_____________
1 See document MEPC 59/4/1.
2 Reference is made to ISO
Standard 8217, 2005.
Monitoring
and calculation of yearly and three-year rolling average
Monitoring
5.
Monitoring should be based on calculation of average sulphur content of
residual fuels on the basis of sampling and testing by independent testing
services. Every year the average sulphur content of residual fuels should be
calculated. After three years the reference value for monitoring will be set as
described in paragraph 11.
Calculation
of yearly average
6.
At the basis of monitoring is the calculation, on an annual basis, of the
average sulphur content of residual fuel.
7.
The calculation of the average sulphur content is executed as follows:
For a certain
calendar year, the sulphur contents of the samples analysed (one sample for
each delivery of which the sulphur content is determined by fuel oil analysis)
are recorded. The sulphur contents of the samples analysed are multiplied by
the corresponding mass of fuel added up and then divided by the total mass of
bunker analysed. The outcome of that division is the average sulphur content of
residual fuel for that year.
8.
As a basis for well-informed decisions a graphical representation of the
distribution of the global sulphur content in residual fuels in terms of the %
sulphur in increments of 0.5% sulphur plotted against the quantity of fuel
associated with each incremental sulphur content range should be made available
by 31 January of each year.
9.
The mathematical formula for the method of calculation described is given in
the appendix to these Guidelines.
Three-year
rolling average
10.
A three-year rolling average should be calculated as follows:
Acr
= (Ac1 + Ac2 + Ac3)/3
in which:
Acr = rolling average S-content
of all deliveries tested over a three-year period
Ac1,
Ac2, Ac3 =
individual average S-contents of all deliveries tested for each year under
consideration
Acr
is to be recalculated each year by adding the latest figure for Ac
and deleting the oldest.
Setting
of the reference value
11.
The reference value of the world wide average sulphur content of residual fuel
oils supplied for use on board ships should be Aw, where Aw
= Acr as calculated in January of the year following the first three
years in which data were collected on the basis of these Guidelines. Aw
should be expressed as a percentage.
Providers
of sampling and testing services
12.
There are presently three providers of sampling and testing services under
these Guidelines.
13.
Any additional providers of sampling and testing services will be approved by
MEPC in accordance with the following criteria:
.1 be subject to
the approval of the Marine Environment Protection Committee, which should apply
these criteria;
.2 be provided
with a technical and managerial staff of qualified professionals providing
adequate geographical