BEIJING: China’s Shenzhen port will be implementing tighter sulfur limits from October 1, 2016, with ships required to use bunker fuel with a maximum sulfur content of 0.5% while at berth, except during the first hour after arrival and the last hour before departure, a circular from Huatai Insurance, a marine services company which provides regular updates on China’s shipping industry on its website, stated this week.
“In the Pearl River Delta ECA [emission control area], only at Shenzhen port [will such a] requirement be implemented in advance … whilst at other key ports within the Pearl River Delta ECA, such requirements will still be implemented from January 1, 2017, as per [the] original schedule of the China MSA [Maritime Safety Administration],” the circular stated on August 23, adding that the Shenzhen MSA has advised that “they are now working out details on these requirements and plan to issue a formal notice at the end of this month”. China-based traders said Friday that the impact of the tighter sulfur limits at Shenzhen port is expected to be small.
