Tag: PPR

IMO's Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) will conduct a meeting on 18 to 22 February to IMO's headquarters, London. IMO's agenda includes MARPOL Annex VI guidelines, safety measures on reducing the risks of use and carriage of heavy fuel oil, as well as measures aiming to decrease the impact on the Arctic of Black Carbon emissions from international shipping. 

During his presentation at the last GREEN4SEA Conference, Mr. Antony Vourdachas, ABS, referred to the latest regulatory updates, including those related to air emissions as well. Presenting a regulation timetable from the top (2021), he attempted to clarify the regulatory landscape facing ship operators and owner.

The proposed change to MARPOL Annex VI to ban the carriage of bunkers above 0.50% sulphur does not prevent the use of technology to lower these emissions, such as scrubbers. Nor does it apply to bunkers carried as cargo. However, there are concerns that the regulatory change does not make this clear enough.

"The proposal to ban the on-board presence of high sulphur content fuel globally is a step in the right direction. We are striving to reduce distortional practices among the various flag States, and this ban will make it easier to enforce the regulations and, thus, help ensure a level playing field," said Andreas Nordseth, Director General of DMA.

The Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response, being held from 5-9 February, forwarded the proposed draft amendments to the MEPC 72 meeting in April 2018, for urgent consideration. Once approved by MEPC 72, the draft amendments could be adopted at MEPC 73 and could enter into force in March 2020. 

IMO's PPR 5 recommended a ban on ships carrying non-compliant marine fuels, to simplify the enforcement of the 0.5% global marine sulphur cap in 2020. The Clean Shipping Coalition, which has consultative status at IMO, welcomed the recommendation that the IMO imposes the ban at its MEPC meeting in April.

Leading shipping industry and environmental organisations are concerned that the enforcement of the 0.5% sulphur cap will be very challenging. As a result, there are proposals being put to this week’s IMO PPR 5 meeting to make even the carriage of non-compliant fuels illegal from 2020.

Ensuring consistent implementation of the 0.50% requirement coming into effect on 1 January 2020 is a key item on the agenda of IMO’s Sub-committee on PPR being held from 5 to 9 February, at IMO headquarters. The meeting will also continue to look at how to measure black carbon emissions from shipping. 

Work to support the smooth and effective implementation of the 0.5% m/m global sulphur cap on fuel oil used by ships will be a main focus for the 4th session Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response.