PMA MMN 04/2020 - South Korea Establishes an Emission Control Area for Ships

    The purpose of this Merchant Marine Notice is to communicate to ShipOwners/Operators and Agencies of Panamanian Flag Vessels that In South Korea the“Special Act on Air Quality Improvement in Port and Other Areas”is now in force. The act was introduced by the Korean Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries in April 2019.

    The first stage is a vessel speed reduction programme, which has entered in force in December 2019. Under the programme, ships that voluntarily reduce their speeds within 20 nautical miles of the ports of Busan, Ulsan, Yeosu, Gwangyang and Incheon will receive discounts on port entry and departure fees. Each area covers 20 nautical miles in radius, measured from a specific lighthouse in each port. The second stage involves the creation of new emissions control areas in the ports of Incheon, Pyeongtaek and Dangjin, Yeosu and Gwangyang, Busan and Ulsan.

    From 1st September 2020, vessels at berth in these ports will be required to burn fuel with sulphur content of no more than 0.1%. This is likely to be extended to include the entire port areas from 1st January 2022.

    Therefore, this Administration encourage to all ShipOwners /Operators and Vessel Agencies, to review the minimum standards for procedures to comply with The MARPOL Annex VI relating its requirements that apply to fuel oil used on board aiming the Implementation details of the marine fuel standard hereafter, applied within the Korea’s Emission Control Area (ECA) regulation enclosed in its issued National Special Act on Air Quality Improvement in Port and Other Areas.