News

IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) has moved to ban the use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) and its carriage for use by ships in Arctic waters after 1 July 2024. However the move has been criticized by environmental groups as lacking real regulatory control, as the legislation contains loopholes and exemptions in addition to the enforcement period which extends well into the 2020s. One provision exempts ships with oil fuel tanks inside their double hull, while another gives countries in Arctic waters the right to issue waivers from the HFO ban for vessels flying their respective flags in the Arctic until 1 July 2029. The ban is expected to be formally adopted at the next MEPC session in June 2021. Read more: Riviera News

Microplastics, the residue of plastic in the ocean, is one of the challenges which environmentalists are looking to confront. In a first of its kind demonstration project, Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines in collaboration with the Miura Company have developed and tested a water filtration device to capture the plastics. The microplastics collection device is activated during the operation of the ballast water treatment system typically during the cargo handling operations in a port. Using a filter with a backwashing function for the ballast water treatment, the device efficiently collects microplastics trapped in the filter before the treated water is discharged overboard. Based on the results of the first test, the project team is continuing to improve the device. MOL says that they are examining ways to make it easier for crewmembers to use and increase microplastics collection capacity. More information: Maritime Executive

Albion Marine welcomes the draft amendments to the MARPOL convention that require ships to combine a technical and an operational approach to reduce their carbon intensity. Draft new mandatory regulations to cut the carbon intensity of existing ships have been approved by the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee. This builds on current mandatory energy efficiency requirements to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. The MEPC also agreed the terms of reference for assessing the possible impacts on States, paying particular attention to the needs of developing countries, in particular Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs). Read more: IMO News

The first regulations designed to support the IMO’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets are on the near horizon, but there are more regulatory hurdles to consider. Other environmental issues and an increasing number of stricter local regulation are contributing to an increased complexity. The maritime industry is facing several upcoming environmental regulations, in addition to the broad range already in place. The general self-perception of the industry is that it has done a tremendous job in achieving compliance with, for example, ballast water regulations and, more recently, the global sulphur 0.50% cap. While this is true, even tougher challenges lie ahead. Read more: DNVGL