The International Maritime Organization (“IMO”) regulates many activities associated with global shipping, including marine fuel quality. Effective Jan. 1, 2020, the sulfur specification of bunker fuels in non-emission control areas (ECAs) will be reduced from 3.5% to 0.5%. The regulation is referred to as IMO 2020.
Source: Drillinginformation.com
Shippers have the option to either buy the compliant fuel or install scrubbers while continuing to use the higher sulfur fuel. If they decided to install scrubbers, or buy ships with scrubbers already on board, they must also decide if they use closed-loop, open-loop, or hybrid scrubbers.