On January 01, the implementation of the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) Global Sulphur Cap took place, which required the world’s commercial shipping to use fuels with a sulphur content of 0,5 percent or less, down from the current 3,5 percent.

On this occasion, the Cyprus Shipping Chamber sent a message to the International Shipping Industry and its regulators.

Philippos Philis, president, Cyprus Shipping Chamber, stated, “There is no doubt that the new regulation will have great environmental and human health benefits. The Cyprus Shipping Industry has supported the implementation of the regulation. Our Members have worked intensively in the past months to assure readiness and compliance with the regulation. We urge bunker fuel suppliers to ensure the supply of safe and compliant fuel and at the same time we wish to call on governments and their Port State Control authorities to provide consistency and a common-sense approach to enforcement during the initial weeks of implementation, provided shipowners can demonstrate they have done everything in their power to comply. The global shipping industry is determined to address the environmental impacts of shipping so that we can continue to drive global trade sustainably.”