SOx Cap (Global)
D6. Decarbonization, emissions and alternative fuelsDefinition
0.50 percent sulfur cap on marine fuel.
The global sulphur cap limits sulphur in marine fuel to 0.50% by mass outside emission control areas, in force since 1 January 2020 under MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14, down from the previous 3.50%. Ships comply by burning very-low-sulphur fuel oil or marine gas oil, or by fitting an exhaust gas cleaning system (scrubber) that lets them keep burning high-sulphur fuel. The 2020 step is the single largest cut to shipping’s sulphur emissions and reshaped the bunker market.
Source: MARPOL Annex VI Reg. 14