New Emission Control Areas in China

Three new emission control areas will be established in China. They have been created to reduce the levels of ship-generated air pollution and mainly focus on the sulphur content of fuels. The three areas are the Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Delta and Bohai Bay. It should be noted that these emission control areas arise as a matter of Chinese domestic law and are not MARPOL Annex VI designated  emission control areas.

Details of these areas were first announced when the “Ship and Port Pollution Prevention Special Action Plan (2015-2020)” was issued by the Chinese Ministry of Transport. This was followed by the implementation plan which was released in December 2015.

The new regulations apply to all vessels entering or operating within the emission control areas, with the exception of military, pleasure craft and fishing vessels.

Boundaries and Core Ports

As part of the implementation process a number of ‘core ports’ have been identified. The boundaries and core ports for each emission control area are as shown right.

Timeline of New Sulphur Limits

The limiting of the sulphur content of the fuels used within the emission control areas will be a staged process. Also, there are provisions for vessels to take alternative measures to comply with the new rules, such as connecting to shore power – also known as cold ironing – or using clean energy fuels. Another alternative is to use an exhaust gas scrubber.

The details in the timeline for the regulations are not clear at present. But it is understood to be as follows:  

From 1 January 2016: Strict enforcement of the existing international conventions and domestic laws and regulations on sulphur oxides, particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. The notable change is the indication that there will be stricter enforcement of the existing international and domestic requirements.

In addition, the ports within the emission control areas have the option to introduce a 0.5% sulphur limit and/or other control measures. In view of this option, it will be necessary to monitor developments on a port-by-port basis.

From 1 January 2017: Vessels at berth in a core port within an emission control area should use fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 0.5% – except one hour after arrival and one hour before departure.

From 1 January 2018: Vessels at berth in any port within an emission control area should use fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 0.5% – except one hour after arrival and one hour before departure.

From 1 January 2019: Vessels operating within an emission control area should use fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 0.5%.

At a date which has yet to be advised after 31 December 2019 there will be an assessment made by the Chinese authorities with a view to adopting one or more of the following:

• Reducing the maximum sulphur content to 0.1% for vessels operating in the emission control area.
• Expand the geographical size of the emission control areas.
• Consider any other further initiatives.

Members are advised to keep up to date on how this new staged regulation process progresses. Where necessary, have sufficient compliant low sulphur bunkers to comply with the Chinese domestic requirements.  

Check the situation with local agents well in advance of calling at an affected port.

Yangtze River Delta: Core ports in the Yangtze River Delta are Shanghai, Ningbo, Zhoushan, Suzhou and Nantong

Bohai Bay: Core ports in Bohai Bay are Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Tangshan and Huanghua

Pearl River Delta: Core ports in the Pearl River Delta are Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Zhuhai.