Strengthened Sulfur Content Standards for Domestic Navigation Vessel Fuel Oil... Coast Guard Cheong to Conduct Special Crackdown from January

Ship Fuel Oil Inspection
Photo by Korea Coast Guard

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The Korea Coast Guard has urged the industry to comply with the strengthened sulfur content standards for fuel oil (heavy oil) used by domestic vessels, which will be tightened from the current 3.5% or less to 0.5% or less starting next year.

According to Article 42 of the Enforcement Decree of the "Marine Environment Management Act," the sulfur content of heavy oil used as fuel on vessels not engaged in international navigation, i.e., vessels navigating domestically, will be changed to 0.5% or less from January 1 of next year.

The law will be applied gradually from the date of vessel inspection next year. Meanwhile, the stricter sulfur content standard for fuel oil (0.5% or less) has already been applied to vessels engaged in international navigation since January of this year.

Meanwhile, five major ports?Busan, Incheon, Ulsan, Yeosu·Gwangyang, and Pyeongtaek·Dangjin?have been designated as sulfur oxide emission control areas under the "Special Act on the Improvement of Air Quality in Port Areas," with stronger regulations enforced since September this year.

In these areas, the sulfur content standards for domestic navigation vessels are 0.05% or less for diesel and 0.1% or less for heavy oil.

The Special Act was enacted to reduce and efficiently manage air pollutant emissions, as fine dust concentrations in major port cities are as severe as those in large inland cities like Seoul, with ports and vessels identified as the causes.

The Coast Guard plans to inform ship operators and owners about the revised sulfur content standards for fuel oil throughout December and provide guidance to ensure compliance on site. Following this, a special crackdown will be conducted for three months starting January next year when the law takes effect.

Violations of the sulfur content standards for vessel fuel oil will be punishable by up to one year imprisonment or a fine of up to 10 million KRW under the Marine Environment Management Act.

A Korea Coast Guard official stated, "The government is implementing a seasonal fine dust management system from December this year to March next year to reduce fine dust," and added, "We ask related industries, including vessel workers, to actively participate in complying with regulations to reduce fine dust in port and coastal areas."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.