After a campaign was launched regarding the ban of heavy fuel oil (HFO) from Arctic shipping, 65 companies, organisations, politicians and explorers, adopted the measures proposed, since its launch in Tromsø twelve months ago.
Revealed at the Arctic Frontiers conference in January 2017 by the Clean Arctic Alliance, the Arctic Commitment aims to protect Arctic communities and ecosystems from the risks posed by the use of heavy fuel oil, and calls on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to ban its use and carriage as fuel by Arctic shipping.
“Banning the use and carriage of HFO in Arctic waters is the simplest and most effective mechanism for mitigating the consequences of a spill and reducing harmful emissions. An HFO ban has already been in place in Antarctic waters since 2011. Thanks to the strong stance taken by Arctic Commitment signatories, we are seeing a growing understanding of the HFO problem, along with increased momentum to end its use by Arctic shipping,” stated Dr Sian Prior, advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance.
From its part, Hurtigruten, has stopped using heavy fuel oil on its ships in any waters years ago, as it does not make sense to bring more pollution and more risk to a region that needs less, Daniel Skjeldam, CEO of expedition cruise operator Hurtigruten, mentioned.
In a joint statement ahead of a critical IMO meeting in February, BIMCO, Clean Shipping Coalition, Cruise Lines International Association, Friends of the Earth US, ICS, International Parcel Tankers’ Association, INTERTANKO, Pacific Environment, World Shipping Council, and WWF Global Arctic Programme, assert that a carriage ban will help ensure robust, simplified and consistent enforcement of the global sulphur cap.
This initiative was supported by Maersk as well. Namely, the company’s COO, Søren Toft, said in a statement: “Great to see unprecedented & strong cross-sectoral & NGO support for ban on HighSulpher fuels. Maersk fully supports the ban & strong enforcement”.
