Heavy fuel oil ban
From 1 January 2022, it is not permitted for ships calling in the territorial waters around Svalbard to use or have on board petroleum-based fuel with a higher viscosity, density or solidification point than permitted for marine gas oil.
Published 7/5/2023
Marine gas oil is defined in separate regulations issued by the ministry: Regulations on the definition of marine gas oil in the Svalbard Environment Act § 82a (in Norwegian).
The ban appears in §82a of the Svalbard Environment Act.
The purpose of the ban is to avoid the release of heavy fuel oil and to limit pollution from ship accidents in the territorial waters around Svalbard. Instead, ships in these areas must use light marine diesel, which produces less serious pollution when discharged.