Shipowners seek IMO action on sulfur cap challenges

JUNE 18, 2018 — As the January 1, 2020 implementation date for the global 0.5 percent cap on sulfur in marine fuel gets nearer, the challenges it presents are becoming increasingly apparent. Shipowners are hoping that an IMO panel that meets next month can make progress on tackling them.

International shipping industry trade associations (BIMCO, ICS, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO and WSC) have co-sponsored a number of submissions to IMO in advance of the meeting.

The submissions include papers on:

a standard format for a ship specific implementation plan with many actions ships may need to consider for achieving compliance along with a call for “a practical and pragmatic approach from IMO Member States when verifying compliance” with the 0.50% global sulfur cap;

safety implications associated with 2020 fuels and their respective challenges;

a draft standard for reporting on fuel oil non-availability;

proposals for amendments to MARPOL Annex VI to require sampling points for fuel oil; and

verification issues and control mechanism and actions.

Higher complexity

Through their own proposed standard implementation plan, shipowners and ship operators are committed to do what is necessary and what is under their control to meet the standards required. But, say the trade associations, the worldwide implementation of this game-changing new regulatory regime will be far more complex than the previous introduction of sulfur Emission Control Areas for shipping not least because of the sheer magnitude of the switchover and the quantities and different types of fuel involved.

In 2015, ships trading in ECAs primarily changed to ISO 8217 distillate fuel oils. But in 2020, as well as using distillates to comply with the 0.5% sulfur cap, many ships will have to use blended fuel oils and new products which are outside of the ISO 8217 standard.

On top of the absence of global standards for many of the new blended fuels that oil refiners have promised, there are potentially serious safety issues, including those related to the use of compliant but incompatible bunkers. As an example, if bunkers turn out to be incompatible it could lead to loss of power on the ship.

No transitional period

The industry recognizes that, in a legal sense, there will be no transitional period after 1 January 2020. But, say the trade associations, something of this magnitude has never previously been attempted before on a worldwide basis.

“The industry will do its utmost to be fully compliant to the extent that this is under its control,” they say. “But safe and successful implementation will necessitate the supply of fuels, in ports around the world, which are compatible as well as legally compliant.

“With the scale of the technical challenges involved and the likelihood of teething problems, it will be important for port state control authorities to exercise a pragmatic and realistic approach to enforce compliance during the initial months of the global switchover, which will come into effect at the stroke of midnight in just 18 months’ time.”

The industry co-sponsored submissions to the special intersessional meeting of the IMO Sub Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response, which meets during the week commencing July 9, can be found HERE