Circular

1 The Marine Environment Protection Committee, at its seventy-fourth session (13 to 17 May 2019), and the Maritime Safety Committee, at its 101st session (5 to 14 June 2019), recommended that Member States should take appropriate action to ensure that fuel oil suppliers under their jurisdiction deliver compliant fuel oil.

2 SOLAS and MARPOL contain provisions applicable to the supply of compliant fuel oil to ships that relate to both safety and environmental requirements. Specifically, safety and fuel oil quality are addressed in SOLAS chapter II-2 and regulations 14 and 18 of MARPOL Annex VI.

3 A Party to MARPOL Annex VI is required to take all reasonable steps to promote the availability of fuel oils that comply with MARPOL Annex VI. Fuel oil for combustion purposes delivered to and used on board ships to which MARPOL Annex VI applies shall meet the requirements set out in regulation 18.3 of MARPOL Annex VI.

4 Pursuant to regulation 18.9 of MARPOL Annex VI, Parties undertake to ensure that appropriate authorities designated by them take action as appropriate against fuel oil suppliers that have been found to deliver fuel oil that does not comply with that stated on the bunker delivery note.

5 Members States should urge fuel oil suppliers to take into account the following guidance, as relevant:

6 Member States are invited to bring this guidance to the attention of Administrations, recognized organizations, port authorities, shipowners, ship operators, fuel oil suppliers, shippers/manufacturers and other parties concerned.