Environmental organizations and the global shipping industry are calling for an explicit prohibition on the carriage of non-compliant marine fuels when the global 0.5% sulfur cap takes effect in 2020.
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) in a statement said that “unless a ship is using an approved equivalent compliance method, there should be no reason for it to be carrying non-compliant fuels for combustion on board.”
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has agreed that from January 1, 2020 the maximum permitted sulfur content of marine fuel outside of emission control areas will reduce from 3.5% to 0.5%.
The 2020 sulfur cap will provide substantial environmental and human health benefits as a result of the reduced sulfur content of marine fuels used from January 1, 2020.
“At the same time, the 2020 cap will significantly increase ships’ operating costs and will present major challenges to governments that must ensure consistent enforcement across the globe,” said the statement.
“To secure the intended environmental and health benefits, the organizations 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.”
In a joint statement ahead of a critical IMO meeting in February, at which proposals for a carriage ban will be discussed by governments, environmental and shipping organizations assert that such a ban will help ensure robust, simplified and consistent enforcement of the global sulfur cap.
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-compliant fuels, said ICS. These proposals call for an amendment to Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention, stipulating that ships should not carry fuel for propulsion with a sulfur content above 0.5%, unless they are using an approved alternative compliance method.
Aside from ICS, the call for a prohibition on the carriage of non-compliant fuels is now supported by the Baltic and International Maritime Council, Clean Shipping Coalition, Cruise Lines International Association, Friends of the Earth U.S., International Parcel Tankers Association, International Association of Independent Tanker Owners, Pacific Environment, World Shipping Council, and WWF Global Arctic Programme.
The ICS is the principal international trade association for the shipping industry, representing shipowners and operators in all sectors and trades. Its membership comprises national shipowners’ associations in Asia, Europe and the Americas whose member shipping companies operate over 80% of the world’s merchant tonnage.
Photo: Roberto Venturini
