SIERRA LEONE: IMO 2020 SULPHUR CAP SERVICE CHARGE
Circular Ref: O(21)48
Issue Date: 11 Aug 2021
In July, the government of the Republic of Sierra Leone issued a notification, attached at Annex A, advising that a new ‘IMO 2020 Service Charge’ of up to $15 (USD) per metric ton of bunker fuel on board, will be imposed (per visit) on all ships calling to the Port of Free Town, Peppel, Nitti and Dedicated Anchorage Areas.
In addition, it warns that shipowners and operators could face a penalty of $15,000 USD from 1 September if found to be carrying fuel oil non-compliant with the 0.5% limit on sulphur content, irrespective of whether the vessel is fitted with an exhaust gas cleaning system.
ICS has therefore contacted the IMO Secretariat, the Consultative Shipping Group (CSG) and the European Commission (in collaboration with ECSA) with a briefing note (see Annex B), outlining industry’s concerns about the potential incompatibility between the global 2020 sulphur cap regulation and the new national ‘IMO 2020 service charge’ and the negative precedent this might set.
In response, the IMO Secretariat are currently in contact with the Sierra Leone Maritime Authority, and have requested that ICS raise this issue formally which would allow them to explore additional options.
If any HKSOA Member has experienced issues posed by the sulphur cap service charges in Sierra Leone please provide details to the undersigned so we can alert the ICS.