Emissions

• MARPOL sulphur testing 'could have far-reaching implications'
  Feedback on news: Call to bring commercial test procedures into line with IMO sulphur verification protocol. (21^st July 2008) Full Story
• Martin Smits
  Argos Ceebunkers BV.
  GMT 08:05
  22nd Jul 2008

  How can this be possible: Products that are bought and sold within the ISO 8217:1996/2005 specifications, which are worldwide used and accepted as an standard, with all applicable testmethods as described in the ISO specifications. IMO has verified that ISO 8754 is applicable for the test method of the sulphur content, but they do NOT accept an result that would be fully within those mentioned test methods (up to 1.58% m/m) This is not in conformity of the agreed ISO 8217 regulations and can to my knowledge only been changed if this would be amended in the ISO 8217 international standard. It is very strange that IMO's MEPC can just alterate or not use an international worldwide accepted standard and make their own interpretations about the fact that a result according them is out of the specifications, but according the ISO methods is within the requested specifications. I wonder what the outcome will be if a case like this will go to court !!!
• Nkosi Khomo
  Vavane Petroleum
  GMT 07:18
  8th Jan 2009
  IP: x.x.158.178

  I agree with you Martin and I find it strange and I have heard of cases where borderline figures of 1.57%S have been disputed. The maximum figure of 1.58%S was arrived at based on the ISO 4259 assertion that a fuel's true value of any parameter can never established exactly and hence the Repeatability And Reproducibility principle. The IMO would have to come to the party before some serious can of worms come out of the legal can!