At MEPC 76 in June 2021, amendments to MARPOL Annex I related to the prohibition of the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil as fuel by ships in Arctic waters were adopted by the IMO as Resolution MEPC.329(76).

Under this resolution, the carriage and use of specified heavy fuel oils*1 as fuel by ships in Arctic waters will be prohibited starting on 1 July 2024.

For ships to which either Regulation 12A of MARPOL Annex I or Regulation 1.2.1 of Chapter 1 of Part II-A of the Polar Code applies, however, the carriage and use of such heavy fuel oils*1 as fuel in Arctic waters will be prohibited starting on 1 July 2029.

(*1 Oils, other than crude oils, having a density at 15°C higher than 900 kg/m3 or a kinematic viscosity at 50°C higher than 180 mm2/s)

The carriage of heavy fuel oil as cargo will not be prohibited by this resolution.

For any questions about the above, please contact:

NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (ClassNK)
Machinery Department, Administration Center Annex, Head Office
Address: 3-3 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0094, Japan
Tel.: +81-3-5226-2022 / 2023
Fax: +81-3-5226-2024
E-mail: mcd@classnk.or.jp