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According to Circular No.21 of 2019, from 1 January 2020, the Saudi Ports Authority will apply the instructions for compliance with the provisions of MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14 from Circular No.14 of 2019 to international (Saudi/Non-Saudi) ships coming to the ports.
From 1 January 2020, all international ships entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia waters are to use fuel oil of Sulphur content not exceeding 0.50%m/m (herein referred to as compliant fuel oil). The term “fuel oil” for the purpose of this Circular, means oil delivered onboard ship for combustion in connection with the propulsion and operation of the ship, including distillate marine fuels and residual marine fuels.
From 1 March 2020, international ships entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia waters are prohibited from carrying fuel oil of Sulphur content exceeding 0.50%m/m (herein referred to as non-compliant fuel oil) on board ships.
For ships using alternative measures complying with the equivalent requirements (such as Exhaust Gas Cleaning System EGCS “Scrubbers”) as set out in MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 4, the requirements of above paragraphs 2 and 3 can be exempted. The term “alternative measures”, for the purpose of this Circular, means ships using any installation, appliance or alternative fuels capable of achieving the same or better emission reduction level compared to that required by regulations.
Crew members must be properly trained in the use of the EGCS and the system must be kept in good working order, with maintenance up-to-date and monitoring devices fully operational.
From 1 January 2020, a KSA-flagged ship using or carrying non-compliant fuel oil due to the unavailability of compliant fuel oil must immediately report to TGA and submit Fuel Oil Non-Availability Report (FONAR) to the competent authority of the next arrival port if it is a foreign port. The copy of FONAR is to be kept onboard for a minimum of 36 months.
From 1 January 2020, a foreign ship using or carrying non-compliant fuel oil due to the unavailability of compliant fuel oil must submit FONAR to TGA before departing from last port and at least 48 hours before entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia waters.
The FONAR report should be filled and sent to TGA at [email protected]
The Sulphur content of fuel oil supplied onboard is to be confirmed from the supplier’s Bunker Delivery Note (BDN) which shall contain the information specified in Appendix V of Annex VI. The BDN shall be retained on board for three years after the fuel is delivered and be readily available for inspection.
The BDN shall be accompanied by a representative sample of the fuel oil delivered, taking into account guidelines developed in Resolution MEPC.182 (59). The sample is to be sealed and signed by the supplier’s representative and the Master or Officer in charge of bunker operation on completion of bunkering operations and retained under ship’s control until the fuel oil is substantially consumed, but in any case for not less than 12 months from the time of delivery.
Where routine commercial sample testing of a fuel oil sample indicates that the fuel delivered differs substantially from that described on the BDN, the Company and/or bunker supplier may request to have the representative MARPOL sample tested in accordance with Appendix VI of MARPOL Annex VI.
Results of sample tests will be used by the appropriate authority in the Kingdom to establish whether a ship is consuming and/or carrying compliant fuel.
Samples should be analysed by a laboratory accredited appropriate authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
For information about operations in Saudi Arabia contact GAC Saudi Arabia at [email protected]