Ports

The purpose of this document is to inform the shipping community of the procedures and amplifications necessary to implement the Maritime Regulations for the Operation of the Panama Canal (MROPC).

Sulphur Content of Liquid Fuels Directive, 1999/32/EC, as amended by 2005/33/EC relating to the sulphur content of marine fuels - ships at berth.

Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS) in operation
Exceptional circumstance 1 - An EGCS suffers from transitory non-compliance (for example due to engine load fluctuation)

USCG updates Ballast Water Management (Updated July 2017). The US Coast Guard announced that an updated Ballast Water Management (BWM) Program guidance is available on its public Homeport internet portal.

Two slideshow presentations are available to provide interested readers a “BWM 101” overview of the program and a “BWM Update” on recent developments and activities. These presentations include speaker notes for each slide and will be frequently updated in an effort to keep all stakeholders informed.

The Little Blue Book on Ballast Water. Danish Shipping has launched a new guide on the implementation of the Ballast Water Management Convention, which will enter into force on September 8.

All new ships will have to be equipped with a ballast water treatment system, while existing ships will need to have systems installed from September 8, 2019 to September 8, 2024.

Instructions from the Administration of Panama regarding IMO MSC.1/Circ. 1352/Rev.1 (CSS Code Annex 14) were announced in ClassNK Technical Information No. TEC-1097 dated 28 December 2016.

The Administration has updated MERCHANT MARINE CIRCULAR MMC-340, including their additional guidance on the application of relevant requirements to existing containerships, as attached.

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform stakeholders that under the Vessel Pollution and Dangerous Chemicals Regulations (the Regulations),the sulphur content requirements for marine fuel will be 0.1% effective January 1, 2015.

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.

Vessel owners/operators are required to comply with the U.S. ballast water regulations provided in Title 33 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 151, Sections 151.1510 or 151.2025. Upon a vessel’s compliance date, these regulations require use of one of the approved ballast water management methods listed in the regulations.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) issued an advisory announcing that, effective immediately, transiting crude oil tankers, product carriers, and chemical tankers carrying cargoes with flashpoints of less than 18°C are required to cool their main decks with water by means of the on-deck water sprinkler system or any other means available in order to prevent activation of their pressure relief valves during transit.