Marine fuels

(Beta version)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION - RESPONSIBILITIES

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The Directorate of Energy, Industrial and Chemical Products (Δ.Ε.Β.Χ.Π) of the General Chemical State Laboratory (GCSL) has been designated as the national competent authority for its proper implementation European Directive (EU) 2016/802 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the reduction of the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels».

The purpose of that directive is to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions resulting from the combustion of certain types of liquid fuels and thereby reduce their harmful effects on humans and the environment.

Ensuring the environmental and economic benefit resulting from the reduction of polluting emissions of ships, by implementing this directive, is a high priority for the European Union, which through the European Maritime Safety Agency EMSA  monitors and coordinates the efforts of its Member States.

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Greece, as a member state, submits annually to the European Commission, through Δ.Ε.Β.Χ.Π., a reference report on inspections carried out over the territory and relating to Marine fuels.

The number of mandatory ship inspections as well as marine fuel sampling results from the Article 3 of regulatory decision 2015/253/EU and it is communicated in our country by EMSA to the authorities each year.

 

Hence the Δ.Ε.Β.Χ.Π., in cooperation with the Navigation Safety Directorate of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy coordinates and controls a network of sulfur inspectors which consists of both GCSL employees and by employees of the Hellenic Coast Guard – Hellenic Coast Guard Headquarters. ΑΚΤ.).

 

NETWORK OF SULFUR INSPECTORS ACROSS THE GREEK TERRITORY

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As the national competent authority, Δ.Ε.Β.Χ.Π. is also responsible for:

  • Transposition into National Law of this directive and its implementing decisions
  • The issuance of circulars, in cooperation with Directorate of Maritime Safety, relating to the coordination of inspections and the provision of guidelines to the services of GCSL.
  • The collection and use of data collected in the context of monitoring the implementation of Directive (EU) 2016/802 and the results of laboratory analyses for statistical processing
  • The submission to the European Commission, by 30 June of each year, of a reference report on the sulphur content of liquid fuels falling within the scope of Directive (EU) 2016/802 and used within the Greek territory in the previous calendar year.
  • The maintenance of a register of authorized sulphur inspectors as well as the issuance of sulphur inspectors ' identities (GCSL and Hellenic Coastguard).
  • The care jointly with the Directorate of Navigation Safety of the Hellenic Coast Guard Headquarters and in cooperation with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) for the training and continuous training of authorized inspectors–S.
  • The care jointly with the Directorate of Navigation Safety of the Hellenic Coast Guard Headquarters and in cooperation with the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) for the training and continuous training of authorized inspectors–S.
  • Monitoring the correct implementation of the directive, in cooperation with the competent services and taking measures where necessary

 

Other Directorates of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy as well as the Ministry of Environment and Energy are involved in the monitoring and proper implementation of this directive (keeping a register of licenses for trade in duty-free marine fuels category B1 (http://www.ypeka.gr/Default.aspx?tabid=293&language=el-GR) but also the customs authorities (Certificate of infringement against marine fuel suppliers in cases of violation of the terms of marketing of fuel traffic).

 

In recent years, Greece has managed to successfully implement the goals set by EU carrying out numerous inspections of ship documents as well as inspections by sampling marine fuels (table I).

 

TABLE Ι

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The chart below shows the distribution of ship inspections by sampling marine fuels throughout the Greek territory for the years 2016 to 2021 where there is an increase in the number of inspections. In all cases the samples taken during the inspections were analyzed in the accredited fuel laboratories of GCSL in Piraeus and Thessaloniki (DIAGRAM 1).

 

DIAGRAM 1

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The % percentage of samples of marine fuels that are outside the permissible limits in sulfur content, resulting in the imposition of penalties by the local competent port authorities, ranges from 2-5%. This low percentage indicates compliance of ships and shipowners with the requirements of Directive (EU) 2016/802.

For more information on legislation, circulars etc click here.