The Clean Arctic Alliance (CAA) has stepped its campaign to have the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil (HFO) to be banned in the Arctic and called on Russia and Canada to back it.
In a statement, the CAA has said it welcomes the progress made during the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 6) but warned those who support its campaign need to stay “focused” if the fuel is to be phased out 2023.
On February 18, 2019, PTI reported that the CAA had renewed its calls for an HFO ban as the PPR 6 gathered to meet in London.
During the summit, IMO member states finalized a methodology for assessing the impact of an HFO ban on Arctic ecosystems, indigenous local communities and economies, and began work on identifying what types of fuel will be banned.
It also addressed the how black carbon emissions, which are produced by burning oil-based fuels, such as HFO, can be reduced – but there was no specific prioritization of the most effective measures and considerations will now be discussed at the next gathering in May 2019.
A recent Port Technology technical paper explored eco-efficiency in terminal operations
Dr Sian Prior, Lead Advisor to the CAA, said: “Earlier this week, the IMO Secretary General stressed the urgency of the International Maritime Organization taking robust action to reduce the risks to the Arctic marine environment from the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil as fuel by shipping.
“Earlier this week, the IMO Secretary General stressed the urgency of the International Maritime Organization taking robust action to reduce the risks to the Arctic marine environment from the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil as fuel by shipping.
“There is still much work to be done before the Arctic ecosystem and Indigenous local communities are afforded the same level of protection as Antarctic waters from the risks of heavy fuel oil.
“It is imperative that when the PPR Sub-Committee meets again in early 2020, it finalises the development of a new regulation to ban HFO use and carriage as fuel in the Arctic”.
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