An unnamed shipowner has reportedly fallen foul of Chinese authorities for flouting new sulphur emission rules in Emission Control Areas (ECA).

The Maritime Safety Administrations (MSA) in Heibei Province and Tianjin Municipality are said to have penalized the owner for the use of fuel with a sulphur content in excess of 0.5%, according to the American Club.

“It has been reported that, in conducting the supervision and inspection survey of the foreign vessel that arrived at Tianjin Port, the MSA officer suspected that the vessel was using non-compliant fuel,” the P&I club said in a circular to members.

“Sampling