Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO)
Marine fuel blended to the global sulphur cap: the compliant fuel for most waters since the IMO sulphur rules took effect.
- Category
- Regulation and Compliance
- Abbreviation
- VLSFO
- Global sulphur limit
- 0.50%
- ECA sulphur limit
- 0.10%
- In force
- January 2020
- Last reviewed
How it works
Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) is a residual marine fuel blended to meet the global sulphur limit that took effect under MARPOL Annex VI (the rule often called "IMO 2020"). Inside Emission Control Areas the limit is tighter still.
Ships either burn compliant fuels like VLSFO and marine gas oil or keep burning high-sulphur fuel oil with an exhaust scrubber. The price spread between VLSFO and high-sulphur fuel determines the economics of fitting a scrubber.
Where it shows up on The Maritime
Also known as: VLSFO, very low sulphur fuel oil, IMO 2020 fuel.
Related terms
Scrubber
An exhaust gas cleaning system that removes sulphur oxides from a ship’s emissions, letting her burn cheaper high-sulphur fuel.
Bunkers
The fuel a ship burns and, by extension, the act of taking on that fuel (bunkering). Usually the single largest voyage cost.
MARPOL
The IMO convention preventing pollution from ships: oil, chemicals, sewage, garbage and air emissions, across six annexes.
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
The United Nations agency that sets global rules for ship safety, security and pollution prevention.
More regulation and compliance terms
A plain-English reference definition: our own explanation of a standard shipping concept, not a licensed source or legal advice. See the full glossary or the broader maritime dictionary.
Last reviewed: .