Time “running out” for Sulphur and Ballast, says ICS

At its 25th Anniversary Annual General Meeting in Cyprus, a survey of ICS members indicated that many governments are unprepared for uniform implementation of the sulphur ECA requirements, echoing contention throughout the industry.

“The shipping industry is investing billions of dollars in order to ensure compliance,” said ICS secretary general Masamichi Morooka. “The huge costs involved could have a profound impact on the future structure of the entire shipping industry and the movement of international trade.

“It is therefore incumbent on governments to get the details of implementation right as we enter this brave new world in which fuel costs for many ships will increase overnight by 50% or more. We only have six months to go and we think it vital that governments clarify all of the details of ECA implementation as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, the bone of industry contention that is IMO’s upcoming Ballast Water Management re-emerged in the meeting, with members renewing calls for a much more comprehensive type-approval process, in order that vessels are not penalised by Port State Control inspections tougher than type-approval requirements themselves. ICS indicates that the problems must be taken into account at the 67^th meeting of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 67) in October, with Morooka adding that “time is rapidly running out.”

ICS members, did, however, concede that there is “now a greater understanding” of barriers to Ballast Water Management (BWM) implementation amongst IMO member states. The group last week went on record hitting back at allegations that the IMO was sluggish in its operations, calling the criticism "unfounded and rather unfair".

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