The Norwegian authorities have imposed significant fines on an Irish cargo ship, the “Arklow Wind,” for violating environmental regulations while visiting Svalbard in the Arctic.
Despite regulations prohibiting the use or transport of heavy fuel oil (HFO) in the area since January 2022, the ship was found to have HFO onboard when it entered Svalbard’s waters on June 6, 2024. This breach led to a fine of NOK 1,000,000 for the shipping company and NOK 30,000 for the ship’s captain.
According to local news sources, this marks the first instance of such penalties being applied under Section 82a of the Svalbard Environment Act, which aims to protect the fragile Arctic environment by prohibiting HFO, known for its environmental impact and difficulty in cleanup, from ships calling at Svalbard. The fines have been contested by the shipping company, which posted a guarantee to continue operating pending a court hearing scheduled for October.
As informed, the strict prohibition reflects efforts to safeguard Svalbard’s unique ecosystem from potential ecological harm posed by HFO spills.
To remind, a prohibition on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil as fuels in Arctic waters will soon come into effect. HFO ban regulation in the Arctic refers to Regulation 43A in Chapter 9 of MARPOL convention, meaning that the use and carriage of oils as listed in Regulation 43.1.2 of MARPOL Annex I as fuel by ships will be prohibited in Arctic waters, as defined in MARPOL Annex I, Regulation 46.2, on or after 1 July 2024.
HFO in this context implies fuel oil having a density at 15°C higher than 900 kg/m3 or a kinematic viscosity at 50°C higher than 180 mm2/s.
