At last week’s 69th session of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting, the outcome of fuel oil quality was not as positive as expected.
The Committee came to the decision that best practises for oil providers, fuel oil purchasers and users and Member States should be developed. However, the Committee suggested that the best practise guidance for Member States should not go beyond the requirements set out by MARPOL Annex VI and should therefore not impose obligations that are not included within the Annex.
The Committee did not agree to give further consideration to the adequacy of the current legal framework in MARPOL Annex VI for assuring the quality of fuel oil for use on board ship.
Many of the delegate countries also raised concern that the contract of the supply and delivery of fuel oil to a ship is a commercial matter and therefore deemed the existing requirements under MARPOL Annex VI adequate.
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