The 2020 Global Sulphur Cap and The Role of Cylinder Oil Lubricants

The impending onset of the Global Sulphur Cap 2020 is catalysing a monumental shift in the types of fuel being bunkered by the international shipping fleet away from predominantly heavy sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) to a wider variety of fuel options.

With an entry into force date of January 1, 2020, stricter fuel sulphur content restrictions imposed on the global fleet has put the industry on the verge of what will be the most significant period of change in the past decades. Under the new rules, ships must burn fuels with a sulphur content of no more than 0.50% m/m or a maximum equivalent emission output. This is a significant drop from the current limit of 3.50% which has been in effect since January 1, 2012.

Owners and operators must switch their vessels to use lower sulphur fuels or alternatives to meet the IMO legislation. Those wishing to continue to use HSFO must equip their vessels with emissions abatement technology that ‘scrubs’ the sulphur from exhaust gas to achieve an equivalent method of compliance to those burning a compliant low sulphur fuel. <0.5% low sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) is expected to be the predominant compliance option to meet IMO legislation requirements post-2020.