In case you are not already aware, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) of the Republic of Korea  announced  two new environmental measures to reduce air pollution from shipping in January 2020. 

1) Speed Reduction Program (VSR) 

Under the special act on air quality improvement in port and other areas which took effect in December 2019, ships inside the designated VSR Program Sea Areas in the five major ports of Busan, Ulsan, Yeosu, Gwangyang and Incheon have their port fees discounted if they voluntarily reduce their speeds below certain specified levels. The VSR program sea areas span 20 nautical miles in radius from specific lighthouses in each port. Further information on the VSR Program can be found at the following link:

Republic of Korea – Vessel Speed Reduction Program

2) SOx ECA Area implementation  

The MOF has introduced new environmental laws requiring all ships to use fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 0.10% in designated port areas. The ECA will be implemented in  2 stages:-

1. From 1st September 2020, ships at berth or at anchor in the ports of Busan, Incheon, Ulsan, Yeosu, Gwangyang (including Hadong port) and Pyeongtaek-Dangjin will be required to burn fuel with a maximum sulphur content of 0.10%. Ships will be required to changeover to compliant fuel within 1 hour after completing anchoring or mooring and will have to continue burning compliant fuel up to 1 hour before completion of heaving in anchor or de-berthing
   


2. From 1st January 2022, ships will be required to use compliant fuel while they are inside the designated SOx ECA.

Further technical information, including the extent of the SOx ECA, can be found in attached Annex from the from Korean Registry.