Bunker sampling guidelines for Port State Control
Following the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee session in November 2020, new amendments were adopted to MARPOL Annex VI.
These amendments which will come into force on 1 April 2022, outline methods for sampling from fuel oil tanks to validate the sulphur content of the fuel onboard.
Members are reminded to be aware and prepared for Port State Control inspectors who will potentially draw samples from all the ship’s fuel tanks and not only from the service tank(s) in order to verify that the fuel oil meets the sulphur content limit (0.50%).
Additionally, members are also reminded that until the amendments come into force, IMO has also issued a circular for the Port State Control authorities to commence drawing on board samples during this transitional period.