A number of environmental and shipping organisations have made a joint decision to support a ban on vessels carrying non-compliant marine fuel coming 2020, when the sulphur cap for bunkers drop from 3.5% to 0.5%.
The entities are: BIMCO, Clean Shipping Coalition, Cruise Lines International Association, Friends of the Earth U.S., International Chamber of Shipping, International Parcel Tankers’ Association, INTERTANKO, Pacific Environment, World Shipping Council, and WWF Global Arctic Programme.
According to their joint statement, a number of international associations representing the global shipping industry, as well as the Cook Islands and Norway, have already submitted proposals to IMO to ban the carriage of non-complaint fuels.
“These proposals call for an amendment to Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention, stipulating that ships should not carry fuel for propulsion with a sulphur content above 0.5% (unless they are using an approved alternative compliance method),” it said.
The 2020 sulphur cap will provide substantial environmental and human health benefits as a result of the reduced sulphur content of marine fuels used from 1 Jan 2020, they note.
However, it also significantly increases ships’ operating costs and will present major challenges to governments to consistently enforce the ban across the globe.
To secure the intended environmental and health benefits, the organisations say it is of utmost importance that enforcement of this standard is efficient and robust globally.
“Any failure by governments to ensure consistent implementation and enforcement could also lead to serious market distortion and unfair competition,” they state.
The industry proposal for the carriage ban of non-compliant marine fuel in 2020 will be considered at the next International Maritime Organization Sub Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response from 5 to 9 February.
Photo credit: Transport & Environment
Published: 23 January, 2018
9% of low sulphur fuel samples in the Americas analysed between 1 December to 13 January found to be off spec for issues, including engine-damaging sediment, says FOBAS.
‘The bunker price volatility this year [...] is a textbook example of why it pays to consult with your marine fuels supplier to help manage this risk,’ says CEO Søren Høll.
The system would be overseen by the IMO and would involve charging a levy on carbon-intensive fuels and subsidising low- and zero-carbon fuels, it said.
Cost of each scrubber, including installation, will be approximately $2 million, says drybulk player.
Representatives of Veritas Petroleum Services, Maersk, INTERTANKO, ElbOil Singapore, and SDE International provide insight from their respective fields of expertise on what lies ahead.
Ban of wash water discharge from open-loop scrubbers to take effect from 1 January 2020.
Session will provide insights on bunker quality issues from a bunker supplier, shipping company and surveyor, as well as providing insight and guidance on legal and dispute resolution issues.
Gealubes Consulting & Trading, the authorised marine business distributor of PANOLIN EALs at Singapore port, shares a two-part education series on Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants on Manifold Times.
Danny Lee Chee Keong was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment over the theft of MFO from the Consort Bunkers owned and operated bunker tanker at the sea off Eastern Petroleum ‘B’ anchorage.
‘Metcore’s MFM+ Program exemplifies serious oil suppliers and buyers who advocate fair trading using a recognised and widely-accepted technology,’ highlights Darrick Pang, Managing Director of Metcore.
‘The victim is Consort Bunkers Pte Ltd, the owner of the Pearl Melody,’ states the joint statement of facts (SOF) document obtained by Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times.
Between November 2016 and October 2017, Mr Tan falsified at least 20 invoices and submitted these invoices to UOB and OCBC, according to court documents obtained by bunkering publication Manifold Times.
