Stelios N. Mavrelos, Technical Director, Capital Ship Management Corp., responded to GREEN4SEA questions by addressing the biggest marine environmental challenges within 2017 for ship managers. Mr Mavrelos notes that the compliance of the BWM convention will be definitely the hot potato along with the reduction of CO2, NOx and SOx shipping emissions following IMO decisions at MEPC 70 meeting.
GREEN4SEA: Do you think there was a significant success and/or progress made with respect to marine environment protection during 2016? Focusing on your area of expertise, what were the most important industry developments within 2016?
Stelios Mavrelos: Considering the decisions made within 2016; the most important development is the adoption of various energy efficiency measures; aiming to reduce the CO2 emissions.
The agreement for limiting the sulphur in fuels to 0.5% globally by 2020 may also be a significant step in our endeavours to protect the environment; as long as in our efforts to solve one problem we do not create another one.
The agreement for BWM to come in force as from 9/17 may also be considered as a good step forward by some, nevertheless I feel the Industry as a whole is not ready for implementation. The results from such enforcement remain to be seen.
G4S: Focusing on your area of expertise, what do you think that it will be the biggest marine environmental challenge(s) for the industry for the 2017?
S.M.: The biggest marine environmental challenges within 2017 for ship managers; is to plan for a “commercially efficient and effective” compliance of the BWM convention, prepare for the implementation of the MRV regulations and do feasibility studies as to what is the best way in achieving compliance for minimizing NOx and SOx emissions.
G4S: What would be the 2017 resolutions for your company/ organization? What are your goals and aspirations to enhance environmental excellence? Do you have any new projects on the pipeline and/or plans for 2017 that you would like to share?
S.M.: Ensuring compliance with rules and regulations as a first step and improvements in energy efficiency either by implementation of “technical” and or operational measures has always been our focus and we will continue doing so in the years to come. I am certain many other ship managers share the same view.
G4S: What is your overall forecast for the marine environmental developments in 2017 and what would you like to share and/or wish and/or ask other industry stakeholders?
S.M.: I think many people are now more aware, that global climate change is a fact and that if certain actions are not taken now by all and this includes the marine industry, as a human race we will be faced up with severe consequences in future.
No doubt the marine Industry has taken up some necessary steps as a part of its contribution for minimizing ship emissions. The Environmental regulations will become stricter, the problem is that we cannot all agree which is best course of actions.
Given a set of goals, it may be best for governments and regulators to leave the industry to regulate itself. This of course may be just a wish as experience has shown that governments and regulators will never accept it.
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and not necessarily those of GREEN4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
