Low-sulphur compliance is not that simple for ship operators

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Hitherto, most of the debate surrounding the IMO’s tough 0.5% sulphur cap, coming into force on 1 January 2020, has focused on ships being fitted with scrubbers in order to continue to burn heavy fuel oil (HFO), or the option of bunkering with the more expensive low-sulphur compliant fuels.

However, in this excellent article, carried by our friends at Ship & Bunker, the author reminds ship operators that failing to clean fuel tanks completely before bunkering with low-sulphur fuel could result in contamination, push the sulphur content over 0.5% and thus risk heavy fines.