Four MSAs Launch Joint 5-Month Pollution Crackdown Across the Bohai Sea
Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning and Shandong maritime authorities join forces for a coordinated inspection drive covering oily water, air emissions, fuel quality and high-risk operations.
Starting 5 June 2026, the maritime safety administrations of Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning and Shandong began a joint special campaign targeting ship-source pollution across the Bohai Sea region. The nearly five-month drive combines boarding inspections, cross-regional checks, unannounced spot visits, drone patrols, shore-based monitoring and on-site rapid fuel testing.
Ports covered: Tianjin, Tangshan (Jingtang & Caofeidian), Qinhuangdao, Huanghua, Jinzhou, Yingkou, Longkou
Campaign duration: 5 June 2026 to approximately early November 2026 (nearly 5 months)
WHAT INSPECTORS ARE TARGETING
Regulatory checks span five key areas, with equal weight on pollutant disposal and air/fuel compliance.
- Oily water & tank washings – disposal, documentation, no fake receipts
- Sewage & garbage – verified delivery to qualified reception facilities
- Air emissions – NOx, SOx, VOCs and fuel sulphur compliance
- Fuel oil quality – on-site rapid testing, lab re-checks on failures
- High-risk operations – bunkering, tank cleaning, sludge disposal, cargo transfer
WHAT SHIPS SHOULD DO NOW
- Keep Oil, Garbage and Cargo Record Books accurate and cross-matched with deck/engine logs and port receipts
- Confirm shore power set-up in advance where berthing exceeds 3 hours; retain connection records for 2 years
- Complete CII ratings on time; prepare a corrective plan if rated D (3 yrs) or E (any year)
- Verify VOC recovery systems and management plans on crude/high-volatility cargo runs
- Retain bunker delivery notes, quality certificates and sealed fuel samples for the required retention period
- Sign a valid Ship Pollution Response Agreement before Bohai Sea calls
- Test pollution-prevention equipment (OWS, sewage plant, ODMCS) – no bypasses, no faulty units left running
- Brief crew before entry into Bohai waters; run a pollution-response drill where practicable
ON INSPECTION DAY
- Master or Chief Officer accompanies MSA officers throughout, with certificates and records ready on request
- Chief Engineer must be present and jointly verify sampling, sealing and labelling during any fuel sampling
- Maintain a professional, cooperative attitude – non-compliant fuel or falsified disposal records draw severe penalties