Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) participated in the seminar ‘New MARPOL Regulations’, RS says in its press release.
The event was held in the Aula of the External Relations Department of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce on 13 May 2014. Along with RS its participants also included representatives of Krylov State Research Centre, Sovcomflot Group, Wärtsilä (developer of engines operating on gas fuel), Chart Ferox (manufacturer of tanks to transport liquefied natural gas) and other organisations of the marine industry.
Scientific and practical part of the seminar was opened by Mikhail Petrov, senior principal surveyor of RS Machinery Department, who spoke on the new MARPOL 73/78 requirements on the sulphur content of marine fuel limitation coming into force from 2015. According to M. Petrov, today there are three ways to limit sulphur emissions from ships in the control areas: use of distillates (gas oil and diesel fuel), exhaust emissions scrubbing, use of liquefied natural gas as fuel. Mikhail Petrov estimated each scenario probability and highlighted possible ways to ensure readiness of Russian ships for the new MARPOL 73/78 requirements. In addition, he presented all aspects of gas as ship fuel, noting its benefits of sulphur oxides emissions absence and of significant reduction of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions as compared to other fuel, he also paid special attention to certification of equipment used in this process.
Alexey Sergeev, Deputy Head of RS Classification Division presented a brief overview of the RS requirements for gas fuelled ships. According to him: "RS requirements for gas fuelled ships came into force on 1 January 2014, available on the RS official website, and today we can state there are no restrictions on gas application in marine power plants in RS normative documents." In Sergeev's opinion, a major obstacle to the gas use as fuel for sea-going ships at the moment is the lack of infrastructure for LNG bunkering.