All vessels proceeding to Panama Canal waters for transit must switch from residual fuel to marine distillate fuel prior to arriving at Panama Canal waters. However, related requirements are allowed when vessels may supplement or replace marine distillate fuels with LNG fuel, biofuels, closed loop scrubbers and ULSFO & VLSFO (not exceeding a viscosity of 70 centistokes at 50°C). The ACP (Panama Canal Authority) prohibits the use of open loop scrubbers. Similarly, closed loop scrubbers and hybrid scrubbers in a closed loop mode should retain all effluents on board.

Some exceptions will be applied to the related requirement to switch to marine distillate fuel. Vessels making only a local port call and not transiting will not be required to switch to marine distillate fuel.

When vessels anchoring prior to transit will be permitted to use residual fuel for their auxiliary generator engines, boilers and other ancillary equipment while at the Pacific and Atlantic Anchorages, only if they are capable of maintaining their main propulsion engines simultaneously on marine distillate fuel.

Vessels should record the fuel changeover in their Engine Room Logbook and/or Fuel Oil Changeover Record Book. The record book entries should specify the date and time of commencement and ending of the changeover from marine residual fuel to marine distillate fuel.

After completion of any changeover to marine distillate fuel, the vessel should verify that the main propulsion engine operates properly. If deemed necessary, the vessel should undertake corrective actions to ensure the vessel’s safe and expeditious transit of the Panama Canal.

Vessels opting to use closed loop scrubbers or hybrid scrubbers in closed loop and zero discharge mode, should submit the following to ACP for evaluation, at least 96 hours prior to ETA at Panama Canal waters:

– Copy of the Supplement to the IAPP Certificate

– Total volume of effluent holding tanks

– Total time (in hours) required to reach the capacity of the effluent holding tanks when operating in zero discharge mode. Effluent holding tanks should be empty upon arrival at Panama Canal waters.

Source: www.pancanal.com

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