On the 1st of January 2020, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a global limit on sulfur in ships’ exhaust gases to secure a cleaner shipping industry by reducing man-made air pollution emitted from ships. This new regulation affects all ship owners and shipping companies worldwide. Let us dive into what the IMO 2020 sulfur restrictions are.
The primary type of vessel oil is heavy fuel oil (HFO), a residue stemming from crude oil distillation. HFO is highly efficient with its high energy content, inexpensive, and difficult to refine. Still, crude oil contains sulfur, which, when exposed to engine combustion processes, ends up as SOx emissions. Add to this, some of the world’s largest engines, auxiliary engines, and boilers can be found on vessels, bunkers, and cargo ships, which ultimately leads to massive exhaust gas streams.