Draft U.N. proposals on ship fuel ban in Arctic seen as lax - study 3/9

(Reuters, 4 Sep 2020) International Council on Clean Transportation says waivers and exemptions would mean 74% of ships could continue to use heavy fuel oil.

Draft U.N. proposals to ban the use and transport of heavy fuel oil by ships in the Arctic contain waivers that will allow many vessels to keep sailing without enough regulatory control over their emissions, a study released on Thursday found.

Antarctic waters are protected by stringent regulations, including a ban on heavy oil fuel (HFO) adopted in 2011, even though no cargo moves through the turbulent southern waters. For the Arctic, the rules are looser.

Environmentalists say HFO produces higher emissions of harmful pollutants, including sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxides, and black carbon. In addition, a possible oil spill involving HFO from a ship could have a devastating impact on the Arctic's ecosystem.

The International Maritime Organization is working on prohibiting the use of HFO and its carriage for use by ships in Arctic waters after July 1, 2024.

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Reuters, 4 Sep 2020: Draft U.N. proposals on ship fuel ban in Arctic seen as lax - study 3/9