September 27, 2019: GP Global has performed its first low sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) bunkering operation at the Port of Fujairah enabling it to supply adjoining ports too with International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 compliant standard fuel oil.
The maiden delivery was made via its 6,000-tonnes bunker barge.
Effective from January 2020, IMO 2020 directive sets global sulphur limit of 0.50 percent from 3.5 percent.
Anil Keswani, head of bunkering, East of Suez, GP Global, said, “We are thankful to the authorities of the Port of Fujairah and our partners for their continued trust in us, which has enabled us to undertake the first bunkering of LSFO, just in time as the IMO 2020 takes effect next year.
We are committed to supporting our partners and clients in meeting specifications, which will contribute a long way to securing a cleaner marine environment.”
GP Global’s GPB1 is capable of delivering a comprehensive suite of residual and distillate marine fuels, including low-sulphur marine gasoil (LSMGO), LSFO, 180 centistoke (CST) and 380 CST at the UAE ports.
December 19, 2019: For International Maritime Organisation 2020 compliance on sulphur cap, Essar Shipping is installing scrubbers in some of its vessels and switching over to low-sulphur fuel in the rest if its vessels.
The company announcement said that it will make capital investments in four out of the 12 owned vessels.
The IMO has directed that the global cap of sulphur content in shipping fuel is to be reduced to 0.5% (from the current 3.5%) starting from January 2020.
There is a huge amount of damage taking place in the marine environment due to high sulphur emissions, especially in Northern European countries, the UK being the highest sufferer.
Essar Shipping has pronounced its support and is in a process to be more environment-friendly and implementing processes that will reduce the harm caused to the maritime environment due to sulphur in the fuel.
The company estimates the installation of the scrubber to be completed by April/May 2020.
