The International Maritime Organization has reported that the 2020 global sulphur cap brought about a 70% cut in total sulphur oxide emissions from shipping, ushering in a new era of cleaner air in ports and coastal areas by using less polluting fuels. On January 1, 2020 the upper limit of the sulphur content of ships’ fuel oil was reduced to 0.5% (from 3.5% previously) and despite earlier concerns over fuel availability, only 55 cases were reported whereby the 0.5% compliant fuel was unavailable. Through 2020, and into 2021 to date, IMO has not received any reports of safety issues linked to VLSFO.
