The Tianjin Municipal People’s Government promulgated the Regulations of Tianjin Port on Prevention and Control of Pollution Caused by Vessels (“Regulations”) on 1 March 2018, and the Regulations shall be effective as of 1 May 2018. The Regulations shall be applied to the jurisdiction of Tianjin Port, including the water area and atmospheric environment above the water area. Compared with the Regulations with the Regulations of PRC on Prevention and Control of Marine Pollution Caused by Vessels and Their Relevant Operations (the “Sludge Regulations”), which was released by the MOT in 2011, following are slight differences between the two regulations:

1.      The Regulations provides that, the discharging systems of sewage and bilge must be sealed in two circumstances (Art.10):

i)     vessels navigate, moor or operate in the Tianjin Port for more than 30 days; or

ii)    vessels are under construction or repair in shipyards.

2.      Raise the highest limit of fine for using incinerator from RMB 3,000 to 30,000;

3.      Impose a stricter requirement for fuel quality inspection after charged on board. Art. 14 of the Regulations requires that every time after vessels are charged with fuel, the supplying units shall detect the quality of the fuel and the fuel qualification detection report shall be reserved for inspection;

Impose a strict prohibition of washing deck.