MC 032025 – Sulphur content of FO in the Mediterranean, and Special Areas in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden

Notice to: Shipowners, Operators, Masters, Officers, Flag State Inspectors and Recognised Organisations.

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1.             Purpose

1.1           This Marine Circular is issued by the Barbados Maritime Ship Registry to address:

i)           The new regulations on sulphur content of fuel oils used on board in the Mediterranean Sea Emission Control Area for Sulphur Oxides and Particulate Matter, from 1 May 2025; and

ii)          The discharge requirements of regulations 15.3, 15.5 and 34.3 to 34.5 of MARPOL Annex I in respect to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden Special Areas, in force from 1 January 2025, in accordance with the requirements set out in regulation 38.8.1 of MARPOL Annex I.

iii)        The discharge requirements of Regulation 6 of MARPOL Annex V with respect to the Red Sea Special Area in accordance with Regulation 8.2 of MARPOL Annex V, in force from 1 January 2025.

2.             Application

2.1           This Marine Circular shall be read in conjunction with:

i)           MEPC resolution MEPC.361(79) amending MARPOL Annex VI, Regulation 14

ii)          BMSR Bulletin 027 – MARPOL Annex VI Rev.1.4

iii)        Resolution MEPC.381(80)

iv)        Resolution MEPC.382(80)

3.             Technical Requirements

3.1           From 1 May 2025, all Barbadian vessels subject to MARPOL Annex VI and operating in the Mediterranean Sea are, in principle, required to use on board fuel oils with a sulphur content of maximum 0.10 % m/m in accordance with MARPOL Annex VI regulation 14, or use alternative emission reduction and control technologies to comply with the emission standard.

3.2           For all Barbadian vessels 400 gross tonnage and above, after 1 January 2025, any discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixtures shall be prohibited within the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Special Areas, except when all of the following conditions are satisfied:

i)           The ship is proceeding en-route;

ii)          The oily mixture is processed through an oil filtering equipment meeting the requirements of regulation 14.7 of Annex I;

iii)        The oil content of the effluent without dilution does not exceed 15 parts per million;

iv)        The oily mixture does not originate from cargo pump room bilges on oil tankers; and

v)          The oily mixture, in case of oil tankers, is not mixed with oil cargo residues.

3.3           For Barbadian Oil tankers, after 1 January 2025, any discharge into the sea of oil or oily mixtures from the cargo area of an oil tanker shall be prohibited while in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Special Areas.   This requirement shall not apply to the discharge of clean or segregated ballast.

3.4           For all Barbadian vessels, after 1 January 2025, discharge of garbage into the sea within the Red Sea Special Area shall only be permitted while the ship is en-route and as prescribed by Regulation 6 (Discharge of garbage within special areas) of MARPOL Annex V.

3.5           The boundaries of the above Sulphur Emission Control Area and Special Areas are as set forth in the relevant MARPOL Appendices.

4.             Recommendations

4.1           All shipowners, managers, vessel operators and masters of all relevant Barbadian vessels are urged to ensure strict compliance with the new additional MARPOL regulations as per this Marine Circular. 

5.             Validity

• The validity of this circular is until withdrawn or superseded.

For any inquiries or clarifications for this marine circular, please contact: ops@barbadosmaritime.com