The Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications (LVM) on Monday (9 November) said it is planning to introduce reforms to its environmental legislation concerning maritime transport.
The reforms to reduce sulphur emissions from ships, amongst other developments, will be drafted in a legislative proposal to be submitted to the Finnish parliament.
At present, exceeding the limit for sulphur emissions from fuels may be punishable by a fine or imprisonment under the SECA system, explained the LVM.
It noted the current system to be ‘inefficient’ as none of the four violations detected in past inspections have resulted in any legal penalties for the offenders.
LVM said it is proposing for any vessel exceeding the limit for sulphur emissions to be liable to pay a new fine under criminal law.
The proposed minimum amount of the fine would be EUR 6,000 (USD 7,082) and the monitoring of bunker fuel suppliers under the Sulphur Directive will also be intensified.
The department added that the geographical scope for applications of oil discharge fees would be extended to include inland waters.
The department added it foresees an increase in the use of biofuels as marine fuel in the future, and plans to include regulations of ship-to-ship transfers of biofuels in order to protect the environment.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications said it is currently requesting for any feedback on the proposals to be submitted by 17 December 2020, and the government proposal is to be presented to Parliament in February 2021.
Photo credit: Joakim Honkasalo on Unsplash
Published: 13 November, 2020
IMO representative discusses its upcoming GHG regulation deadlines and the possible impact for the industry and newbuilds given the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Report calls to attention to five key actions first movers can take to make tangible progress towards zero-emission pilots over the next three to four years.
An analysis by Transport & Environment failed to take a number of MSC’s operational aspects into account, and misrepresented its environmental impact, it said.
Commercial party responsible for setting speed and route of a ship should provide for emissions allowances or credits under a market-based measure, it says.
Ports of Busan, Incheon, Yeosu-Gwangyang, Ulsan and Pyeongtaek-Dangjin to be affected by new regulation.
Regulation leaves a first impression that the courts might give more weight to visual evidence, which is potentially open to interpretation and unclear.
Cash of SGD 4.43 million and USD 243,100, and one piece of 100-gram gold-coloured bar recovered in safe belonging to Abdul Latif Bin Ibrahim kept at Extra Space warehouse storage facility, show court documents.
Program introduces periodic assessments, mass flow metering data analysis, and regular training for relevant key personnel to better handle the MFMS to ensure a high level of continuous operational competency.
U.S. Claims Register Summary recorded a total USD 833 million claim from a total 180 creditors against O.W. Bunker USA, according to the creditor list seen by Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times.
Glencore purchased fuel through Straits Pinnacle which contracted supply from Unicious Energy. Contaminated HSFO was loaded at Khor Fakkan port and shipped to a FSU in Tanjong Pelepas, Malaysia to be further blended.
Individuals were employees of surveying companies engaged by Shell to inspect the volume of oil loaded onto the vessels which Shell supplied oil to; they allegedly accepted bribes totalling at least USD 213,000.
MPA preliminary investigations revealed that the affected marine fuel was supplied by Glencore Singapore Pte Ltd who later sold part of the same cargo to PetroChina International (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
