Tag: Arctic

Under the Oceans Protection Plan, Canada is investing $94.3 million over five years to make Arctic re-supply operations faster, safer, and more efficient for remote communities. This investment is expected to help Northerners protect their communities and livelihoods with a marine safety system that will prevent and respond to safety and pollution incidents.

IMO’s MEPC 72 discussed key environmental issues for global shipping industry on 9-13 April. While global attention was focused on the adoption of initial strategy for the GHG emissions reduction from ships, key themes also included the 2020 sulphur limit, the BWM Convention, HFO use in Arctic, marine litter and biofouling.

MEPC 72 in London last week agreed on plans to ban HFO from Arctic shipping, as well as assessing the impact of such a ban. The meeting directed a sub-committee (PPR6) to develop a ban on HFO use and carriage for use by ships in the Arctic, “on the basis of an assessment of the impacts” and “on an appropriate timescale”.

The Clean Arctic Alliance calls on IMO Member States to discuss a proposal which considers “development of measures to reduce risks of use and carriage of heavy fuel oil as fuel by ships in Arctic waters”.

Currently, there is a great boost of shipping activity in the western part of the Northern Sea Route, with ships bringing in materials and equipment for the Yamal LNG plant and the construction of Sabetta port. Many operators eye the passage through NSR, identifying it as a potential international transit route, therefore, a significant expansion of cargo volume is expected over the coming years.

The International Council on Clean Transportation issued five briefing papers, prepared by PhD Bryan Comer, summarizing HFO use in the IMO Polar Code Arctic, for 2015. Analyzing data for the cruise sector, the paper reveals 40 of 62 cruise ships operated on HFO in the region in 2015, with most HFO-fueled cruise ships flying the Bahamas flag. 

ICCT issued five briefing papers summarizing HFO use in the IMO Polar Code Arctic, for 2015. While ships registered in Russia consumed the most HFO by far in the region in 2015, followed by Denmark and South Korea, Russian-flagged fishing vessels emitted about 10 tonnes of BC, 10-times more than Denmark and South Korea.

In response to the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s call for nominations covering a proposed lease sale in Alaska’s Beaufort Sea, WWF warned that any step to expose America’s Arctic Ocean to offshore drilling, threatens the region’s marine wildlife and coastal communities, as well as the ecological future of the Arctic itself. 

The icebreaking LNG Carrier 'Vladimir Rusanov', jointly ordered by Japanese MOL and China COSCO Shipping, conducted its first loading operations in the Yamal LNG plant at Sabetta port, from 27 to 28 March. The vessel is the first of three newbuilding vessels for the two companies in the Yamal LNG Project.

ICCT, issued five briefing papers summarizing HFO use in the IMO Polar Code Arctic, for 2015. Analyzing data per ship type, the paper noted there were 17 ship types operating in the area in 2015, with bulk carriers, fishing vessels, and general cargo vessels accounting for the greatest number of HFO-fueled ships.