ICS Calls on IMO to Address Key Environmental Regs for Shipping at MEPC 69

Peter Hinchliffe, ICS Secretary General, has expressed ICS' hopes for the way in which IMO will address key environmental regulations for the shipping industry at MEPC 69.

Ahead of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO's) 69th Marine Environment Protection Committee session (MEPC 69) on April 18 to 22, Peter Hinchliffe, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has expressed ICS' hopes for the way in which IMO will address key environmental regulations for the shipping industry, including a commitment for CO2 emission reductions, a decision on the implementation of a global cap for sulfur content in bunkers, and the implementation of the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention.

CO2 Emission Reductions

As Ship & Bunker reported in December, ICS acknowledged that some observers were "disappointed" by the exclusion of specific language on shipping emissions from the COP21 climate deal reached in Paris.

In a recent submission, ICS is said to have urged the IMO to address the issue at MEPC 69, with Hinchliffe commenting that "ICS fears that any failure by the MEPC meeting to make progress could result with unilateral action against international shipping."

Further, while the European Union (EU) has adopted its own regional regulation on the monitoring reporting and verification (MRV) for individual ship emissions, ICS says it is concerned that the regulation uses different metrics to those slated for adoption by the IMO.

Global Sulfur Cap

As Ship & Bunker has previously reported, ICS and INTERTANKO have issued a joint call to the IMO for MEPC to agree in principle at MEPC 69, that a final decision on a date for implementation of a global 0.5 percent sulfur cap for shipping should be made at its 70th session.

"The decision will be significant because the cost of compliant fuel could cost over 50 percent more than the cost of residual fuel that most ships currently burn," said Hinchliffe, adding that no matter which implementation date is decided by IMO, "ship operators and oil refiners will need as much time as possible to prepare for the impact."

BWM Convention

Hinchliffe says that, if the BWM Convention is brought into force, among other things, ICS would like to see an implementation process that is careful "not to penalise early movers, which, in good faith, have installed equipment that has been approved in accordance with existing IMO guidelines."

In October, shipbroker Charles R. Weber Company, Inc. (CR Weaver) said that already buoyant tanker rates could get a further boost as tonnage is taken out of service for special surveys or dry docking ahead of the implementation of the 2004 Ballast Water Management Convention.