Information related to the Chinese government’s implementation of regulations limiting the sulphur content of fuel oil used on board vessels to 0.5% m/m was previously provided in ClassNK Technical Information Nos. TEC-1060, TEC-1063, TEC-1068, TEC-1088, TEC-1130 and TEC-1138. TEC-1138, in particular, explained regulations applicable to only those vessels navigating the Pearl River Delta, Bohai Rim and Yangtze River Delta. Then, please be advised of the following additional information about the expansion of the applicable areas.

From 1 January 2019, vessels navigating, berthing and operating within Domestic Emission Control Areas (hereinafter referred to as "DECAs"), which includes both costal control area throughout China and inland river control area, are required to use fuel oil which sulphur content does not exceed 0.5% m/m. For more details, including the scope of the DECAs, please refer to Attachment 1 "Notifications from Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China". Furthermore, the regulations are to be strengthened sequentially as per the following table.

(To be continued)