Tag: regulatory update

Following Thailand's waste ban, the UK Club informed that, to date, there are approximately 1,600 containers and 1,400 containers of scrap or waste cargoes at Laem Chabang Port and Bangkok Port respectively. The majority of the containers checked by Customs were found to be illegal

Following a recent announcement that China would implement stricter measures to reduce air pollution around its coastlines starting from early 2019, Wood Mackenzie energy consultancy said that this is a clear sign the world’s second biggest economy will strive for 100% compliance ahead the 2020 sulphur cap.

Scrubber uptake is rapidly accelerating with the number of ships with exhaust gas cleaning systems installed or on order standing at 983 as of 31 May 2018, according to a survey by EGCSA. This follows recent reports that major ship operators, including Spliethoff, Frontline, DHT and Star Bulk have opted for scrubbers.

In late May, the European Commission put forward a proposal to ban 10 single-use plastic products most often found on Europe's beaches and seas. However, a number of European countries have already gone ahead with their own laws to combat plastic pollution.

In its annual Safety and Shipping Review, Allianz revealed that 2017 saw the second lowest total of shipping losses over the past decade, with a decline of more than 38%, driven by improved ship design, technology and advances in risk management and safety, as well as recent lower shipping activity.

After the IMO Intersessional Working Group meeting last week concluded, IBIA said that it is positive that there is a significant support among IMO member States to ensure consistency in fuel oil testing and verification procedures. However, discussions on a number of agenda items were left with unresolved issues.

Guido Van Meel, Secretary General of Euroshore International (a non-profit association of waste contractors specialised in ships’ waste) discusses the key challenges with respect to scrubbers taking into consideration a combination of factors that cannot be disregarded amid the legal background.  

ICS is encouraged by efforts made by IMO Member States to resolve some pressing practical challenges ahead of the 2020 sulphur cap global implementation. The announcement comes by ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe, after the IMO Intersessional Working Group meeting last week.

As 2018 marks 70 years since the IMO Convention entered into force, the IMO issued a short animated film showing how the organization has developed mandatory international regulations covering almost every aspect of shipping: safety, environmental protection, search and rescue, security, Arctic routes and many others. 

On 10 July, Jamaica's House of Representatives passed the Ballast Water Management Bill, which is aimed at protecting Jamaica’s marine environment, by implementing measures to prevent ships from introducing foreign aquatic species when entering domestic waters.