OP Notice to Shipping N-1-2017, Vessel Requirements

Since January 1, 2001, the Panama Canal Authority has required vessels maneuvering in Canal waters to switch from heavy fuel to light duel.
This requirement was included from 2001 until 2016 in Notice to Shipping No.N-10, Operational Equipment Tests. Beginning in 2017, the aforementioned requirement on maneuvering fuel was removed from the revised version of Notice to Shipping No.N-10 and included in OP Notice to Shipping N-1-2017, Vessel Requirements.

29. Maneuvering Fuel
a. Vessels operating on heavy fuel oil shall change to light fuel prior to entry into water bodies under the responsibility of the Panama Canal Authority.  Sulfur content in the light fuel shall not exceed the limit set by MARPOL, Annex VI, Regulation 14.1. The outer boundaries of Canal waters are those of the Pacific and Atlantic anchorage areas, as indicated in nautical charts DMA No.21603 and DMA No.26068 respectively.

b. Requirement 31.a, does not apply to vessels equipped with an exhaust gas cleaning system, nor to vessels operating on a low-Sulphur hybrid fuel type.

For the purpose of OP Notice to Shipping No-1-2017, the following definitions apply:
- Light fuel is a distillate marine fuel as classified by ISO 8216-1:2010 and having the specifications detailed in ISO 8217:2010.
- Heavy fuel is a residual marine fuel as classified by ISO 8216-1:2010 and having the specifications detailed in ISO 8217:2010.
- Hybrid fuel is a blended product with specifications that resemble some types of heavy fuel oils (HFO), and are designed to minimize the various operational problems presented by the change-over process from heavy fuel oil to light fuel oil, while having good net calorific values and complying with statutory environmental requirements. Due to their recent development, hybrid fuels are not categorized within the ISO 8217 standard.

Be advised that the light fuel utilized shall have a minimum flash point of 60 deg. C regardless of its classification, and be in compliance with MARPOL, Annex VI in regards to the sulfur content cap, which is currently set at 3.5% m/m (Panama Canal waters are not emission control areas).