MEPC 81 agreed to revoke resolution MEPC.182(59) on 2009 Guidelines for the sampling of fuel oil for
determination of compliance with the revised MARPOL Annex VI and issued new guidelines as in MSC-MEPC.2/Circ.18.
The Marine Environment Protection Committee, at its eighty-first session (18 to 22 March 2024), and the Maritime Safety Committee, at its 108th session (15 to 24 May 2024), recognizing the need to establish an agreed method to obtain a representative sample of the fuel oil for combustion purposes delivered to and intended for use on board a ship, approved the Guidelines for the sampling of fuel oil for determination of compliance with MARPOL Annex VI and SOLAS chapter II-2.
In addition, these Guidelines are intended to assist in the implementation of the flashpoint-related provisions in SOLAS regulation II-2/4, especially for confirming cases where oil fuel not complying with SOLAS regulation II-2/4.2.1 was delivered.
The revised guidelines brings following major changes wrt to the earlier guidelines.
- The retained sample should be of sufficient quantity to perform the tests required but should not be less than 600 ml. The container should be filled to 90% ± 5% capacity and sealed. Earlier the sample size required was of 400 ml.
- The personnel taking the primary sample and preparing the retained sample should be familiar with the contents of these Guidelines and the use of the sampling equipment.
- Section 10 added to the context of compliance with of SOLAS regulation II-2/4.2.1
- The company should develop and maintain a process to keep track of the retained samples.