Canadian vessels are encouraged to have a sampling point or points fitted or designated for the purpose of taking representative samples of the fuel oil being used on board the ship as outlined in Regulation 14.10-14.12 of Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).

The designated fuel sampling point(s) should meet the location and requirements set out in section 2 of the 2019 Guidelines for on board sampling for the verification of the sulphur content of the fuel oil used on board ships (see MEPC.1/Circ. 864/Rev.1 (PDF, 43 KB) on IMO’s website).

The requirements of fuel sampling point(s) will not apply to fuel oil service systems for low-flashpoint fuel^Footnote1 that would be used for propulsion or other operations onboard the vessel.

This policy will be in place until these requirements are incorporated into the Vessel Pollution and Dangerous Chemicals Regulations.