EU Air Pollution Laws to Align with MARPOL Vl: Legal Briefing

The UK P&I Club has issued a 'Legal Briefing' to share its legal expertise and experience on the stricter air pollution regulations that are on the horizon.

By 18th June 2014 all European Union member states are expected to implement directive 2012/33/EU, which brings European national air pollution laws in line with MARPOL Annex VI.

Background
EU regulations have recently been brought in line with MARPOL Annex VI to ensure coherence with international law. However EU member states are also being encouraged to introduce more stringent measures to speed up implementation of lower sulphur limits for marine fuels.

The first step towards reducing SOx emissions by ocean-going ships was taken in 1999 through the EU Directive 99/32/EU. It established limits for sulphur content in heavy fuel oil (1.0% after 1st January 2003) and gas oil, including marine gas oil (0.1% m/m after 1st January 2008).

Later on, following entry into force of MARPOL Annex VI, an amending Directive 2005/33/EU became effective on 1st January 2010 and barred any ship (irrespective of flag, type, age or tonnage) berthed or anchored in EU ports from using marine fuels with a sulphur content exceeding 0.1% m/m.

Further amendments were introduced by Directive 2012/33/EU, which has been in force since 17th December 2012 and will be implemented in EU member states by 18th June 2014.The directive underlines the need for a stronger monitoring and enforcement regime to guarantee proper compliance, suggesting periodic sampling, regular verification of ships’ logbooks and bunker delivery notes as well as dissuasive penalties.

The Legal Briefing document
UK Club considers that its Members need to be fully aware of the growing and stricter atmospheric emissions measures being introduced around the world. This legal briefing summarises the global, regional and national regulations currently in force and being proposed.

The .PDF document can be downloaded at: http://bit.ly/1oVoR4O
 
Source: UK P&I Club