No. 21 of 2013 - ENTRY INTO EFFECT OF THE UNITED STATES CARIBBEAN SEA EMISSION CONTROL AREA UNDER MARPOL ANNEX VI
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
SHIPPING CIRCULAR TO SHIPOWNERS
NO. 21 OF 2013
MPA Shipping Division
460 Alexandra Road
21st Storey PSA Building
Singapore 119963
Fax: 6375-6231
http://www.mpa.gov.sg
17 Dec 2013
Applicable to: Ship owners, managers, operators, masters, crew members,
surveyors, marine fuel suppliers and the Shipping and Bunkering
Community.
ENTRY INTO EFFECT OF THE UNITED STATES CARIBBEAN SEA
EMISSION CONTROL AREA UNDER MARPOL ANNEX VI
- This circular reminds the Shipping Community on the entry into effect of
the United States Caribbean Sea Emission Control Area (ECA) under MARPOL
Annex VI and urges the Community to take early actions for compliance to the
regulations.
- Shipping Circular No. 20 of 2011 had drawn the attention of the Shipping
Community to the designation of the US Caribbean Sea ECA by amendments to
MARPOL Annex VI through Resolution MEPC.202(62). As informed in Shipping
Circular No. 20 of 2012, the amendments entered into force on 1 January 2013.
In accordance with Regulation 14.7 of MARPOL Annex VI, the requirements will
take effect 12 months immediately following the designation of the ECA (i.e. 1
January 2014).
- From 1 January 2014, all ships operating within the US Caribbean Sea
ECA shall only use fuel oil with sulphur content not exceeding 1.00% m/m, and
from 1 January 2015, fuel with sulphur content not exceeding 0.10% m/m.
- Shipowners and operators are advised to ensure that the absolute sulphur
content of fuel oil used onboard ships does not exceed the limits as required
under Regulation 14.4 of MARPOL Annex VI. Shipowners are also advised to
properly maintain clear entries in the Oil Record Book and ensure the BDN is in
good order as documentary proof of vessel’s compliance to the requirements.
For ships using separate fuel oils to comply with the ECA requirements, proper
changeover procedures for entry into an ECA shall be carried and implemented
in accordance to Regulation 14.6 of MARPOL Annex VI.
- Further information on the exact coordinates and map of the US
Caribbean Sea ECA can be found at Circular MEPC.1/Circ.755.
- Any queries relating to this circular should be directed to Mr Princet Ang
(Tel: 6375 6259).
CHEONG KENG SOON
DIRECTOR OF MARINE
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
E
4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT
LONDON SE1 7SR
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7735 7611 Fax: +44 (0)20 7587 3210
MEPC.1/Circ.755
2 November 2011
INFORMATION ON THE UNITED STATES CARIBBEAN SEA
EMISSION CONTROL AREA UNDER MARPOL ANNEX VI
1 The Marine Environment Protection Committee, at its sixty-second session
(11 to 15 July 2011), adopted, by resolution MEPC.202(62), amendments to MARPOL
Annex VI to designate the United States Caribbean Sea Emission Control Area for NO , SO
x x
and particulate matter (amendments to regulations 13, 14 and Appendix VII).
2 MEPC 62 agreed to circulate information on the United States Caribbean Sea
Emission Control Area (ECA) and requested the Secretariat to disseminate the information
as an MEPC Circular (MEPC 62/24, paragraph 6.37.7).
3 Appendix VII to MARPOL Annex VI contains the definition and boundaries with the
full coordinates of the United States Caribbean Sea ECA, which is based on the "North
American Datum of 1983/World Geodetic System 1984 (NAD83/WGS84)". Diagrams
showing the geographical distribution of the United States Caribbean Sea ECA are set out in
annex 1 to this circular, and the full list of coordinates may be found in annex 2 to this circular.
4 The above amendments are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2013, upon
their deemed acceptance on 1 July 2012.
5 In accordance with the provisions of regulation 14.7 of MARPOL Annex VI, the
requirements within the United States Caribbean Sea ECA for SO and particulate matter will
x
be effective on 1 January 2014.
6 While ships are operating in the United States Caribbean Sea ECA, the sulphur
content of fuel oil used on board ships shall not exceed 1.00% m/m on and
after 1 January 2014, and 0.10% m/m on and after 1 January 2015. For ships, built on or
before 1 August 2011, that are powered by propulsion boilers that were not originally
designed for continued operation on marine distillate fuel or natural gas, the above sulphur
requirements may not be applied prior to 1 January 2020 (regulation 14.4.4 of MARPOL
Annex VI).
7 Ships constructed on or after 1 January 2016 shall comply with the NO emission
x
limits specified in regulation 13.5.1.1, when operating within the United States Caribbean
Sea ECA.
8 Member Governments are invited to bring this circular to the attention of their
Administrations, relevant shipping organizations, recognized organizations, shipping
companies and other stakeholders concerned.
***
I:\CIRC\MEPC\01\755.doc
MEPC.1/Circ.755
Annex 1, page 1
ANNEX 1
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE UNITED STATES CARIBBEAN SEA
EMISSION CONTROL AREA
Note: The points correspond to the list of coordinates in annex 2.
***
I:\CIRC\MEPC\01\755.doc
MEPC.1/Circ.755
Annex 2, page 1
ANNEX 2
LIST OF COORDINATES FOR THE UNITED STATES CARIBBEAN SEA
EMISSION CONTROL AREA
The United States Caribbean Sea area includes the sea area located off the Atlantic and
Caribbean coasts of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands,
enclosed by geodesic lines connecting the following coordinates:
POINT LATITUDE LONGITUDE POINT LATITUDE LONGITUDE
1 17º 18′ 37″ N. 67º 32′ 14″ W. 29 18º 21′ 57″ N. 64º 40′ 60″ W.
2 19º 11′ 14″ N. 67º 26′ 45″ W. 30 18º 21′ 51″ N. 64º 40′ 15″ W.
3 19º 30′ 28″ N. 65º 16′ 48″ W. 31 18º 21′ 22″ N. 64º 38′ 16″ W.
4 19º 12′ 25″ N. 65º 6′ 8″ W. 32 18º 20′ 39″ N. 64º 38′ 33″ W.
5 18º 45′ 13″ N. 65º 0′ 22″ W. 33 18º 19′ 15″ N. 64º 38′ 14″ W.
6 18º 41′ 14″ N. 64º 59′ 33″ W. 34 18º 19′ 7″ N. 64º 38′ 16″ W.
7 18º 29′ 22″ N. 64º 53′ 51″ W. 35 18º 17′ 23″ N. 64º 39′ 38″ W.
8 18º 27′ 35″ N. 64º 53′ 22″ W. 36 18º 16′ 43″ N. 64º 39′ 41″ W.
9 18º 25′ 21″ N. 64º 52′ 39″ W. 37 18º 11′ 33″ N. 64º 38′ 58″ W.
10 18º 24′ 30″ N. 64º 52′ 19″ W. 38 18º 3′ 2″ N. 64º 38′ 3″ W.
11 18º 23′ 51″ N. 64º 51′ 50″ W. 39 18º 2′ 56″ N. 64º 29′ 35″ W.
12 18º 23′ 42″ N. 64º 51′ 23″ W. 40 18º 2′ 51″ N. 64º 27′ 2″ W.
13 18º 23′ 36″ N. 64º 50′ 17″ W. 41 18º 2′ 30″ N. 64º 21′ 8″ W.
14 18º 23′ 48″ N. 64º 49′ 41″ W. 42 18º 2′ 31″ N. 64º 20′ 8″ W.
15 18º 24′ 11″ N. 64º 49′ 0″ W. 43 18º 2′ 3″ N. 64º 15′ 57″ W.
16 18º 24′ 28″ N. 64º 47′ 57″ W. 44 18º 0′ 12″ N. 64º 2′ 29″ W.
17 18º 24′ 18″ N. 64º 47′ 1″ W. 45 17º 59′ 58″ N. 64º 1′ 4″ W.
18 18º 23′ 13″ N. 64º 46′ 37″ W. 46 17º 58′ 47″ N. 63º 57′ 1″ W.
19 18º 22′ 37″ N. 64º 45′ 20″ W. 47 17º 57′ 51″ N. 63º 53′ 54″ W.
20 18º 22′ 39″ N. 64º 44′ 42″ W. 48 17º 56′ 38″ N. 63º 53′ 21″ W.
21 18º 22′ 42″ N. 64º 44′ 36″ W. 49 17º 39′ 40″ N. 63º 54′ 53″ W.
22 18º 22′ 37″ N. 64º 44′ 24″ W. 50 17º 37′ 8″ N. 63º 55′ 10″ W.
23 18º 22′ 39″ N. 64º 43′ 42″ W. 51 17º 30′ 21″ N. 63º 55′ 56″ W.
24 18º 22′ 30″ N. 64º 43′ 36″ W. 52 17º 11′ 36″ N. 63º 57′ 57″ W.
25 18º 22′ 25″ N. 64º 42′ 58″ W. 53 17º 4′ 60″ N. 63º 58′ 41″ W.
26 18º 22′ 26″ N. 64º 42′ 28″ W. 54 16º 59′ 49″ N. 63º 59′ 18″ W.
27 18º 22′ 15″ N. 64º 42′ 3″ W. 55 17º 18′ 37″ N. 67º 32′ 14″ W.
28 18º 22′ 22″ N. 64º 38′ 23″ W.
___________
I:\CIRC\MEPC\01\755.doc
