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The next key regulatory milestone is the 2030 regulations where a reduction of 40% of carbon emissions is the current objective. It is widely expected that this threshold will be increased. To date, in the first quarter of 2020, the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) reported that most ships calling at the ports of Singapore have complied with the regulation. It was further reported that based on the pre-arrival notification submitted to MPA, 96% of the ships calling at Singapore used compliant fuel. This excludes ships installed with open loop scrubbers that switch to using compliant fuel upon arriving at Singapore as the use of open loop scrubbers is prohibited in the port of Singapore. In addition, DNV GL reported about 4,000 ships being fitted with scrubbers and more were scheduled to do so during the year due to the price difference between heavy fuel oil (HFO) and low sulphur fuel oil (LSFO). This spread has since reduced to significantly below USD $100 per metric tonne. More information: Safety 4 Sea

As the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down, our team is ready to work. We have been of great support to our clients, colleagues and business partners during this crisis. Albion Marine has successfully completed 3D Scan and started designing scope for BWTS retrofit for a vessel belonging to one of the leading shipping companies in Qatar.

A number of MOUs on port state control (PSC) carried out a joint concentrated inspection campaign (CIC) in 2019 focusing on readiness of ship and crew in an emergency. Gard’s alert of 29 July 2019  provides background information on the campaign as well as a copy of the tailored questionnaire used by attending PSC officers. Operators and masters are advised to take note of the below PSC CIC results and make sure their ships’ muster lists are up to date and meet the requirements of SOLAS Reg.III/8 and Reg.III/37 by providing sufficiently detailed instructions for crews to respond effectively in a real emergency. On ships with significant numbers of non-English speaking crew members, the muster list should also include translations into the appropriate language or languages. Furthermore, masters should bear in mind that there is no substitute for onboard training and drills - everybody onboard must be familiar with the procedures to be followed, their duties and equipment to be used in an emergency. More information: Gard

From 1st October, amendments to MARPOL Annex I, II, V, VI and the NOx Technical Code will permit the use of electronic record books, to enable the accurate record keeping of movements of shipboard substances and materials hazardous to the environment. These amendments follow resolutions adopted at Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) 74 in May 2019, and are applicable to:

• Oil Record Book, parts I and II
• Cargo Record Book
• Garbage Record Book, parts I and II
• Ozone-depleting Substances Record Book
• Recording of the tier and on/off status of marine diesel engines
• Record of Fuel Oil Changeover; and
• Record Book of Engine Parameters.

An electronic record book used as an alternative to an official hard copy record book is required to be assessed by the Flag Administration following which a written confirmation (Declaration of MARPOL Electronic Record Book) will be issued. More info: Safety 4 Sea