IMO Group Agrees on Pollution Reduction Measure
Draft amendments to revise the MARPOL regulations on the prevention of air pollution from ships were agreed by the IMO Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases (BLG) when it met last week (4-8 February) for its 12th session. Following lengthy and technically challenging discussions in the Air Pollution Working Group, the Sub-Committee agreed a draft revised Annex VI to the MARPOL Convention and amendments to the NOx Technical Code. These will now be submitted to the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), which meets for its 57th session from 31 March to 4 April 2008. A number of options remain open for discussion at the MEPC, which is expected to approve the amendments prior to their formal adoption at MEPC 58 (6 to 10 October 2008).
LISCR Welcomes Liberian Legislation
The Advisory Board of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), at its inaugural meeting, held in conjunction with the Annual Conference of the Connecticut Maritime Association, in Stamford, Conn., has set a positive agenda designed to drive forward the Liberian Registry's goal of achieving excellence in standards of quality and service. In his address to the CMA's lunch, Board chairman Rex Harrington reported that the Board had welcomed a number of developments but had also addressed critical issues facing the industry. The Board has set itself and LISCR a timetable to monitor progress and to ensure that the Liberian Registry continues to be the industry leader.
IBIA Delegates Warned of Costs of Unfeasible Distillates Switch
The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) was told at its annual convention in Montreal this month that a new report estimates that it would cost $67b over the next five years to implement a wholesale switch from traditional bunker fuels to distillates only for the world merchant fleet. The distillates-only option was also described as “unfeasible”, due to lack of sufficient refining capacity. The report, prepared for the American Petroleum Institute (API) by EnSys Energy & Systems Inc and Navigistics Consulting, highlights the considerable costs of meeting possible stricter air emissions regulations imposed by a revised MARPOL Annex VI and…
Salvors Plan for Effective Casualty Response
A 10-point plan for more effective ship casualty response has been put forward by the International Salvage Union (ISU). The plan includes a proposal for an advanced EU “Casualty Response Database”, capable of real-time tracking of large salvage tugs and other key salvage assets. Speaking at the Barcelona Shipping Law Forum today, ISU President Joop Timmermans said: “Some of these measures can be put into place very quickly. Others are for the longer term. All 10, however, would make a useful contribution to improved casualty response. · Measure 1: EU adoption of the UK Command and Control model, based around a Ministerial Representative (the “SOSREP” in the UK).
Tanker Phase-out, Orderbook Size Profiles Differ
The size distribution of tankers 5,000-80,000 dwt to be phased out of the oil trades according to MARPOL 13G is quite different from the size distribution of the orderbook, said INTERTANKO's Manager of Research and Projects Erik Ranheim at the Lloyd's List's 7th Product Tanker Conference in London this week. There are about 28m deadweight tons of single-hull tankers 5,000-80,000 dwt to be phased out - including single hull and double bottom/side petroleum tankers and oil/chemical tankers, but excluding chemical tankers. The orderbook in this size range is about the same size. However whereas some 63% of the fleet (in tonnage terms) to be phased out consists of smaller tankers below 30,000 dwt, only 32% of the orderbook (in tonnage terms) is in this size range.
