UGS Hails IMO Decision on Sulphur Cap

The Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) remains firmly committed to the successful transition to the 0.5 percent global sulphur cap in marine fuels and the related dates that have been agreed at the United Nations International Maritime Organization (UN IMO).

At the same time, it fully supports the effective implementation and enforcement of the new regulation through the establishment of a UN IMO institutionalized data collection, analysis and review stage, as the minimum safeguard, given the safety and operational issues already identified.

A press release from UGS said that this is in line with the traditional role of the UN IMO and the need to give priority to the protection of life at sea and the protection of the environment, a principle deeply embedded in the maritime code of values of the Greek shipping community.

“We cannot turn a blind eye to the uncertainties regarding the availability and supply of MARPOL compliant fuels which are also SOLAS compliant, safe, fit-for-purpose and available worldwide, particularly in the bulk/tramp sector. The option of achieving compliance through continued combustion of high-sulphur fuels with installed scrubbers, which in any case has questionable net environmental benefit, is the exception to the rule, especially in this sector due to its fundamental operational characteristics”, the President of the UGS, Theodore Veniamis stated.

Bulk/tramp shipping which represents more than 83 percent of the world’s seaborne trade in cargo ton-miles and in which Greek shipping is primarily involved is by nature itinerant. Its modus operandi does not allow for contractual arrangements to be made with refineries and bunkering facilities at specific ports, as may be the case in other shipping sectors characterized by the regularity of their itineraries and the frequency of their sailings.

Moreover, a lack of international standardization – ISO standards for the new type of compliant fuel will not be ready for January 1, 2020 – only adds to the complexity and compounds the problems. Post 2020, ships involved in bulk/tramp shipping will, in all likelihood, have to bunker untested and diverse fuel blends from different sources around the world, which are especially problematic, as the surge of fuel contamination instances has already indicated.

The stakeholders of the bunker supply chain have recognised the potential safety and operational issues related to the supply and use of 0.5 percent maximum sulphur fuels and are proposing the issuance of extensive guidance for ship operators and crews. However, the responsibility of the marine bunker supply chain cannot be shifted onto ship operators and crews. Ship operators and crews should not be held disproportionately responsible for the safety and environmental consequences of the provision of unsafe or unsuitable fuels.

The UN IMO shipping industry guidance is of course welcome but it is not enough; it needs to be coupled with an institutionalized process which will ensure the proper management of the 2020 sulphur cap issues, taking into account all related parameters, the breadth and width of which are yet unknown.

The proposal made to the forthcoming meeting of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC73) by flag states representing more than 46 percent of the world’s shipping capacity along with international shipping associations for the introduction of an Experience-Building Phase contributes to this aim.

“The ultimate aim should be that the industry in its totality uses safe and suitable, low-sulphur marine fuels. The UN IMO should not allow a trade-off between formal compliance and the safety of ships, crews and protection of the environment,” Veniamis concluded.