As Arctic shipping increases, pressure is mounting to protect the environment from fuels that are harmful when burned and spilled, including heavy fuel oil (HFO). Presently, the IMO is working to develop a ban on HFO in Arctic waters.
Ensuring the Arctic is protected from oil spills and black carbon pollution from heavy fuel oil is one these ways – it’s achievable, and within our grasp.
Heavy fuel oil, say those working to eliminate it, poses two different threats in the Arctic. First, when it burns, it releases black carbon, or soot. In addition to being a health hazard, if the soot settles on snow or ice, it makes it less reflective, speeding the rate at which it melts.
As a meeting of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 6) opens today in London, the Clean Arctic Alliance called on Member States to remain focussed to the goal of developing a ban on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil by shipping in the Arctic.
Given the severe risks associated with HFO, the international shipping community banned its use and carriage by ships around Antarctica in 2011. A ban on HFO in the Arctic was considered in 2013 during the deliberations on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Polar Code, but while some member states were supportive, no consensus was reached. In April 2018, agreement was reached to develop a ban. Now, in 2019, with an Arctic HFO ban on the way – and this infographic charts the progress so far.
The study is complementary to CE Delft’s 2018 assessment of the costs and benefits of a Residuals bunker fuel ban in the IMO Arctic waters and analyses for a Russian trade flow the potential impacts of a ban on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil
The Clean Arctic Alliance is calling on the global shipping industry to adopt a ban on HFO use and carriage as fuel by ships in the Arctic as a first urgent and indispensable step towards reducing warming and stopping the loss of Arctic sea ice.
The Clean Arctic Alliance analysis of the outcomes of MEPC73 and the how the work towards banning heavy fuel oil from the Arctic is progressing.
Article by Dr Sian Prior lead advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance and Dave Walsh, communications advisor, on why heavy fuel oil needs to be banned from Arctic shipping, and how this can be achieved
The Clean Arctic Alliance and indigenous groups welcomed the support given by member states to commence work on developing a ban on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil in Arctic wate