The European Union has recently revised its directive
on sulphur in fuels, generally including MARPOL
Annex VI provisions. According to the new directive,
the limits for the sulphur content of marine fuels used in
designated SOx ECAs (SECAs) will be 1 per cent until
31 December 2014, and 0.1 per cent from 1 January
2015. In addition, the IMO sulphur limit of 0.5 per
cent will become mandatory in waters of European
Union Member States by 2020.55 The inclusion of this
fixed entry-into-force date (2020) has raised concerns
about possible inconsistency with the IMO provision
which makes such a date dependent on the outcome
of the 2018 feasibility study (Platts, 2012