Arctic protection advocate group Clean Arctic Alliance, made up of 20 not-for-profit organisations, on Thursday (17 November) raised concerns on the response of Canada and Russia for not implementing the 2024 prohibition on heavy fuel oil (HFO). 

Responding to media reports that Canada and Russia have written letters to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), stating their reasons for not implementing the 2024 prohibition on HFO, Dr Sian Prior, lead advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance said: “​​IMO Member States must now strengthen the Arctic heavy fuel oil fuel prohibition regulation by removing the option for Arctic coastal states to issue waivers to the requirements, particularly since it appears that Russia – who pushed for the ability to issue waivers – is delaying approval of the Arctic HFO prohibition amendments which brought the ban into effect.”

According to media reports, Canada has written to the IMO stating that although “it fully support and intends to comply with the [MARPOL Annexe 1, June 15 2021] amendments”, it cannot, as “it may not have finalised its treaty adoption process prior to the entry of the amendments”. 

The letter goes on to say that “Canada has begun its domestic procedures and will inform the [IMO] of their completion in a subsequent note”.

Russia has also informed the IMO last month that “the amendments as adopted by the Resolution MEPC.329(76) will not enter into force for the Russian Federation on the 1st of November, 2022”, however unlike Canada, there is no indication of when Russia’s amendments will be introduced.

“Canada must rapidly develop its Arctic HFO ban implementation plan,” said Sam Davin, Senior Specialist, Marine Conservation & Shipping at WWF Canada. 

“With Arctic vessel traffic continuing to increase, it’s urgent Canada puts in place a plan to rid the Canadian Arctic of the world’s most hazardous and polluting marine fuel. The Clean Arctic Alliance calls on Canada to exclude loopholes such as so-called ‘waivers’ which would exempt ships from the ban, and set up a federal marine fuel transition fund to ensure any negative economic consequences from the ban’s implementation do not adversely impact communities in the north.”

“Canada should also require all ships operating in domestic waters to use cleaner alternatives to heavy fuels, such as distillates, as Norway has done in the waters of the Svalbard archipelago.”

“It is over a decade since the Arctic Maritime Shipping Assessment report identified accidental or illegal discharges of oil as the most significant threat from ships to the Arctic, and since a ban on heavy fuels was introduced for the Antarctic. Next month there is an opportunity for urgent discussions at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to ensure that all nations flagging ships which use the Arctic don’t circumvent the new Arctic HFO ban regulation, and to strengthen its application and effectiveness in protecting the Arctic and its people, wildlife and ecosystems,” concluded Prior.

Background

Regulation 43A of MARPOL Annex I took effect on 1 November 2022, and prohibits the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil as fuel by ships operating in Arctic waters from 1 July 2024. However, exemptions are allowed for ships with protected fuel tanks and temporary waivers can be issued by Arctic coastal states for ships flying their flags while operating in waters subject to their sovereignty or jurisdiction until 1 July 2029.

Members of the Clean Arctic Alliance have submitted a proposal to the 79th Session of the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (December 12th-16th December 2022) calling on IMO Member States to amend regulation 43A of MARPOL Annex I to increase its effectiveness at protecting the Arctic from the risks of a HFO spill (MEPC 79/14/1).

 

Photo credit: Clean Arctic Alliance
Published: 21 November, 2022