Speaking during the 31st IMO Assembly Opening Session, the Greek minister of maritime affairs and insular policy Ioannis Plakiotakis, expressed his worries about the imminent implementation of the 2020 sulphur cap, calling for a postponement.
As Mr. Plakiotakis said, global availability of safe compliant fuels is a big challenge, and to address it, the shipping industry must involve all stakeholders in the fuel supply chain. One of those stakeholders, the oil suppliers, they must deliver and guide the crews and the industry to the safe use of compliant fuels blends.
For its part, Greece is putting in force legislation for the imposition of sanctions to fuel suppliers that deliver SOLAS and MARPOL non-compliant fuel. We would urge all IMO MS to do the same
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However, he added that we have not yet faced the full scale reality of the availability, compatibility and safety challenges and risks of the new marine low sulphur fuel oils, especially blended ones. The Minister explained that the international community must look into these matters and effectively address; otherwise ‘the world will witness not only serious trade disruptions but most importantly even fatalities.’
For this reason, Mr. Plakiotakis said that a postponement of the implementation of the regulation could be wise until a solution is found for all the risks that might or have occurred.
Nevertheless, IMO stood by its stance that the 2020 sulphur cap will be implemented in time.
Except for Greece, the US, Russia, India and Indonesia have also expressed similar concerns over the year.
