The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) informs that a second roundtable industry meeting hosted by IMO at its London Headquarters in Monday, November 18 saw more optimism about the general readiness to meet the 2020 sulphur cap requirement, as compared to the first meeting which took place earlier in June.
They say that before a big exam it is best not to study the night before, as the period leading up to it should have prepared you for what’s coming. However, there is always time to quickly check and refresh the most important parts. In this article, we provide key points regarding 2020 sulphur cap, to help operators prepare one last time before the big 2020 exam.
The HSFO that is currently offered and used in ports is experiencing a decrease, and could be limited in light of the upcoming 2020 sulphur cap, as the Marine Bunker Exchange, MABUX, reported.
During the IMO’s 31st Assembly session, shipping stakeholders gathered to discuss about the path towards the 2020 sulphur cap, with the Secretary General’s, Kitack Lim, opening speech calling for concrete action to tackle climate change.
Taiwan fined four ships NT$ 100,000 each, which is around USD$ 3,300, for violating the new emissions control area (ECA) regulations, according to local media citing a note from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
Both IMO as well as the shipping sector, including refineries and fuel (bunker) suppliers have been rapidly preparing for the upcoming 2020 sulphur cap, keeping in mind that it is about two months away; Thus, the IMO conducted a roundtable meeting to discuss the future of shipping fuels, the availability of compliant fuel and the FONAR.
The path towards 2020 sulphur cap remains challenging, especially for those operators that have invested in open loop scrubbers, after many ports have announced that they are restricting or completely banning ships from using fuel cleaning systems that pump waste water into the sea.
Members of the Clean Shipping Alliance 2020 expressed disappointment in regard to Malaysia’s recently-announced decision to prohibit the use of open-loop scrubbers in its coastal waters, stressing concerns for shipowners who have already opted for scrubbers as a way of compliance with the 2020 sulphur cap.
In the wake of recent criticism for the adverse consequences of the use of scrubbers, as well as several port bans on open-loop scrubbers globally, Svein Ole Strømmen, chief operating officer of Clean Marine, cited scientific data proving safety of scrubbers and argued that these systems are useful for the green future of shipping.
Malaysia has banned the use of open-loop scrubbers on Malaysian waters. More specifically, ships are now prohibited from discharging washwater from open-loop scrubbers while operating in the country’s waters. As the government said, vessels calling to the Malaysian Ports are advised to change over to compliance fuel oil or change over to close loop system before entering Malaysian Waters and Ports.
