Ports prepare to enforce IMO sulphur limit
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) have taken delivery of Hitachi High-Tech Analytical Science’s X-MET8000 handheld XRF analyser as they prepare to enforce the IMO’s MARPOL Annex VI sulphur regulation.
MPA ordered a X-MET8000 in May 2019 after identifying its need for a fuel oil sulphur content test kit. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority also purchased the equipment to prepare for the regulation, which will limit sulphur emissions to 0.50% m/m for ships operating outside designated emission control areas from 1 January 2020.
Adrian Smith, deputy sales and service director of Hitachi, said: “Our fully portable solution accurately measures the sulphur content of fuel rapidly, backed by our expertise and many years of experience working with the petrochemical industry.”
Compliance
The X-MET8000 can help port authorities in their enforcement role to check sulphur levels at ports and the equipment complies with ISO8754, ASTM D4294 and IP336 sulphur test methods, offering laboratory-quality testing results onboard.
Able to be used anywhere, the X-MET8000 delivers a reliable result in less than 60 seconds, said Hitachi. The product also comes with an embedded GPS to pinpoint exactly where analysis is performed.
The X-MET8000 benefits from ExTOPE Connect, an advanced data management and storage service that allows the storage of results safely, sharing of data instantly and access in real time from any computer. It also offers fleet management of several instruments under one account.
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