Following the virtual meeting of IMO MEPC 75 on November 16-20, 2020, the Inuit Circumpolar Council urged for stronger protection of arctic shipping, considering the passed HFO ban as “weak”.
During the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), attendees will discuss important measures to further reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships, and ways to reduce the carbon intensity of shipping.
On 17 May 2019, MEPC 74 adopted resolution MEPC.319(74) in order to amend the special, operational and minimum requirements in Chapters IV, V and VI of the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (BCH Code). These amendments are expected to apply from 1 January 2021.
In the week following, IMarEST announced that it will meet with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to issue papers for consideration by the Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) during its 74th session.
The Marine Environment Protection Committee’s (MEPC), 74th session is scheduled to take place in 13-17 May 2019. The key subjects to be discussed will be adoption of amendments to IMO mandatory instruments, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships, implementation of the sulphur 2020 limit, marine plastic litter action plan, ballast water management Convention implementation, approval of guidance and other matters, technical cooperation and capacity building and seminar on ship recycling.
As IBIA reports, a standard IMO format for reporting non-availability of compliant fuel oil has been developed, as well as guidance for how such reports should be investigated by authorities. However, there is no resolution yet about how to deal with any bunkers that are over the 0.50% sulphur limit, which remain on board a ship when the carriage ban takes effect.
According to IBIA, a full review of the 2015 Guidelines on Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems needs more time, as only elements regarding malfunction of the EGCS system or a monitoring instrument have been sent for approval by the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee in May. MEPC 74 will also discuss about ways to address any potential environmental impact of scrubber discharges to water.
In light of the upcoming federal election in Australia, Gas Energy Australia, the country’s downstream gaseous fuels peak industry body, gave a submission to the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities regarding LNG marine bunkering in Australia. The submission aims to inform DoIRC on alternative fuels for Australia’s contribution to the next IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee.
‘Just-In-Time’ operations (JIT) contribute to cutting emissions, by limiting the time vessels passively spend outside ports. Although JIT is helpful to the environment and helps reduce costs, there are multiple operational and contractual barriers to overcome before this could be implemented globally. IMO’s GIA, focusing on the vessels that can already implement JIT, gathered with a variety of industry stakeholders to discuss with what means they can accomplish JIT globally.
Another exciting year is coming to an end. With only few days left until the end of 2018, SAFETY4SEA looks back on the events that defined the environmental stage of the shipping industry. 2020 sulphur cap, scrubbers, LNG, emissions; these are all topics that made the headlines throughout the year. But let’s take a closer look at those topics, which now are at the core of the shipping industry.
