IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) has moved to ban the use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) and its carriage for use by ships in Arctic waters after 1 July 2024. However the move has been criticized by environmental groups as lacking real regulatory control, as the legislation contains loopholes and exemptions in addition to the enforcement period which extends well into the 2020s. One provision exempts ships with oil fuel tanks inside their double hull, while another gives countries in Arctic waters the right to issue waivers from the HFO ban for vessels flying their respective flags in the Arctic until 1 July 2029. The ban is expected to be formally adopted at the next MEPC session in June 2021. Read more: Riviera News
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