Tag: regulatory update

Publishing its financial figures for the first half of the year, Norwegian dry bulk shipping company Jinhui announced that it is sees as more beneficial the option of low sulphur fuel oil instead of scrubbers, in order to achieve compliance with the global environmental regulations coming into force from 2020. 

OSHA's Respirable Crystalline Silica standard for general industry and maritime requires employers to limit worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica and to take other steps to protect workers.

Port of Los Angeles has seen an unprecedented 60% drop in NOx emissions compared to 2005, their lowest level to date, according to the Port’s 2017 Inventory of Air Emissions released last week. The inventory also shows the Port container volume reached an all-time high of 9.34 million TEUs through 2017.

Although it is hard to predict what next years will bring for shipping, discussions at this year’s IMO’s MEPC brought in the spotlight a unified effort towards a more sustainable industry. IMO MEPC 72, which took place during the first week of April 2018, agreed on a target to cut shipping’s overall CO2 by adopting an ‘initial strategy’ as a first step. 

In April 2018, IMO MEPC 72 adopted amendments to the IBC Code and BCH Code due to enter into force on January 1st of 2020. Namely, the amendments concern the International Certificate of Fitness and the Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk.

After a thorough investigation and show cause process, the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has cancelled the livestock export licence of Emanuel Exports. This comes after 2,400 sheep died from heat stress onboard the livestock carrier 'Awassi Express' in August 2017.

American yacht owners are now able to carry an American flag and register their yachts - over 300 GT - in the US. The new legislation aims to modernize outdated laws and bring the US in line with current times. Until now, Yachts over the 300-GT limit were only able to fly the US flag if they were registered as a commercial vessel.

In order to ensure ongoing compliance with MARPOL Annex I Regulation 37.2.4 and MARPOL Annex II Regulation 17.2.4, vessels should have access to a list of authorities or persons to be contacted in the event of pollution incident. The IMO is issuing every three months the updated list of national operational contact points for these shipboard pollution emergency plans.

The clock is ticking towards the 0.5% sulphur cap and although this is about to become effective globally in less than 18 months from today, the route to compliance remains challenging. Earlier in 2018, SAFETY4SEA launched a survey reflecting trends with respect to industry’s readiness to comply with the 0.5% sulphur cap. Key points and data analysis were presented at the 2018 GREEN4SEA Conference in March.

In a report presented to the European Parliament and Council in late July, the European Commission found that the goal of biologically diverse, clean and healthy seas by 2020 is unlikely to be achieved through the measures put in place by Member States under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.