Coast Guard Agency Detects Ships Exceeding Standard Sulfur Content Limits

The Coast Guard is inspecting the storage condition of fuel oil samples on the vessel.
Photo by Haeya Coast Guard Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The Korea Coast Guard inspected the fuel oil status of 235 vessels from January to March this year and detected 17 violations.

According to the Coast Guard on the 15th, this crackdown was conducted in accordance with the government's seasonal fine dust management policy. Twelve vessels exceeded the sulfur content standard in their fuel oil, and three companies supplied non-compliant fuel oil. Additionally, two vessels were caught for not separately storing fuel oil samples.

In one case involving a towing vessel, analysis of heavy oil taken from the fuel oil tank confirmed a sulfur content of 0.77%. According to the Marine Environment Management Act, the sulfur content in vessel fuel oil must be 0.05% or less for diesel and 0.5% or less for heavy oil.

Vessels using fuel oil exceeding the sulfur content standard or suppliers providing non-compliant fuel oil face imprisonment of up to one year or fines of up to 10 million KRW.

Reducing sulfur content significantly decreases sulfur oxides emitted during fuel combustion. Sulfur oxides cause respiratory diseases and are atmospheric pollutants that generate fine dust.

A Korea Coast Guard official stated, "To maintain a pleasant air environment in port areas, we continuously inspect vessel fuel oil and ships emitting exhaust smoke, and conduct preventive publicity activities."

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