World News
Environmental Group Welcomes Cruise Operators' Declaration of Support for HFO-Free Arctic
The Clean Arctic Alliance, through the HFO-Free Arctic Campaign, has welcomed the reconfirmation of support by the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) for a ban on the use of HFO in the Arctic.
"Such a ban would be beneficial to avoid the geographical differences, different national regulations as well as competitive differences between areas and among operators, and would also be consistent with AECO’s objectives to support regulations with clear environmental benefits," said EACO in statement issued last Wednesday.
Sian Prior, an advisor for the Clean Arctic Alliance, said EACO's declaration shows a growing belief within the shipping industry that the Arctic is "simply too vulnerable and too fragile" to continue to with the use of HFO in the region.
"By acknowledging the threats posed by spills and black carbon emissions from heavy fuel oil, the Arctic cruise industry has recognised that while it expands, it must phase out of this dirty fuel in order to protect the environment and human health, and safeguard coastal communities and food security," said Prior.
The Clean Arctic Alliance says that, in order to realise a ban on HFO in the Arctic, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) must prioritise work on HFO regulation, setting a deadline to phase out use of the fuel by 2020.
"AECO, and other shipping industry leaders must now take us out of the HFO era by urging member countries to bring forward concrete proposals for a ban by the next meeting of the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 71), in May 2017," said Prior.
Last month, following the IMO's decision to implement a 0.50 percent cap from 2020, the HFO-Free Arctic Campaign called progress made at MEPC 70 a "massive step" toward the phase out of HFO use by vessels operating in the Arctic.
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| VLSFO | MGO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $/mt | +/- | $/mt | +/- | |
| Singapore | 521.50 | 1.50 | 664.00 | 0.00 |
| Rotterdam | 492.50 | 2.00 | 680.00 | 1.00 |
| Houston | 488.00 | 8.00 | 679.00 | 3.50 |
| Fujairah | 512.00 | 1.50 | 719.50 | 5.50 |
| Global 20 Ports Average | 554.00 | 2.00 | 757.50 | 2.50 |
| Global 4 Ports Average | 503.50 | 2.50 | 685.50 | 2.00 |
| Global Average Bunker Price | 588.00 | 3.00 | 797.50 | 1.00 |
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