MEPC 280(70) decided, after the assessment of fuel oil availability that the fuel oil standard (0.50% m/m) shall become effective on 1 January 2020. This means that outside the special areas, ships should use low sulphur fuels (max. 0.5%S) or alternative fuels such as LNG, LPG, methanol etc., or use exhaust gas cleaning systems in combination with high sulphur fuels (as long that the systems meets the 0.5%S requirements.