A NEW ECA AND SPEED REDUCTION LIMITS IN SOUTH KOREAN PORTS

To reduce particulate emissions from ocean going ships in its ports, South Korea has released a “special act on improvement of air quality in port areas”. Find out more about the Korean ECA and its Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) programme in this statutory news.

The South Korean Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (“MOF”) has announced an air quality control programme that defines selected South Korean ports and areas as Emission Control Areas (ECA). A programme with maximum sulphur limits (0.1%) and speed limits will support the effectiveness of the programme. The following ports/areas are covered by the air quality control programme:
Incheon, Pyeongtaek, Dangjin Area Yeosu, Gwangyang area Busan Busan(west) area Ulsan area.

1. The air quality control initiatives in South Korea consist of two parts Sulphur restriction
   aa) From 1 September 2020 it is mandatory to use fuel with max. 0.1% sulphur content while berthing. Vessels will be required to use max 0.1% sulphur fuel when berthing/anchoring for the times set out below:
   Berthing: 1 hour after completion of berthing until 1 hour before de-berthing.
   Anchoring: 1 hour after completion of anchoring until 1 hour before leaving anchor.
   bb) From 1 January 2022: It will be mandatory to use fuel with max. 0.1% sulphur content while navigating ECAs.

2. Speed reductions
The port areas selected will be designated as “VSR programme Sea Areas”. Each Sea Area will span 20 nautical miles in radius, measured from a specific lighthouse in each port. Ships should navigate no faster than a maximum speed of 12 knots for container ships and car-carriers, 10 knots for other ship types, when moving from starting point to an end point within a Sea Area, see table:

Recommendations
Shipowners and operators should be aware of the following regulations:
South Korean ECA – From 1 September 2020, ships berthing or anchoring at certain Korean ports (South Korean ECA), must use max. 0.1% sulphur content fuel (or reduce emissions below this target). From 1 January 2022 this limit also applies when navigating the ECA area.

Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) Programme
Port fees will be reduced for ships which lower their speeds to set targets defined in the VSR programme Sea Areas.