News round-up: Low sulphur fuels, scrubbers, GHG emissions and digitalisation

Last week was a busy one in the world of maritime and shipping with the impact of regulations on business and operations continuing to dominate the agenda.

With the world’s largest gathering for the ship refuelling industry – the Singapore International Bunkering Conference and Exhibition (SIBCON) – it was little surprise that fuels for 2020 and beyond were in focus. With the majority of owners set to comply with the IMO’s 2020 sulphur cap by using low sulphur fuels the majors are starting to announce their compliant fuels ranges, including ExxonMobil, who took the time to try and reassure the industry over compatibility and availability concerns:

ExxonMobil seeks to reassure shipowners on 2020 compliant low sulphur fuels 

Meanwhile standard bearer in using LNG as a marine fuel CMA CGM warned that more global bunkering infrastructure was needed:

Global bunkering infrastructure still needed to make LNG viable as a marine fuel

Meanwhile for those opting to use scrubbers developments continued apace and Stamatis Tsantanis, ceo of Seanergy Maritime urged owners at a conference in Greece to ensure that customers paid for the equipment:

Seanergy Maritime urges owners to pass on cost of scrubbers to charterers

Meanwhile Hong Kong saw the first gathering of the Global Maritime Forum, trying to shake off its previous national identity as the Danish Maritime Forum. The self-styled Davos of shipping assembled executives from across the world in Kai Tak Cruise Terminal to discuss the burning issues of the day. The result was some 34 top industry executives signing up to a call for action on climate change:

Climate change call for action signed by 34 shipping industry leaders

It will be interesting to see if this translates into real action.

While the Global Maritime Forum called for action some other industry leaders, in particular outgoing Intercargo chairman John Platsidakis and Union of Greek Shipowners’ president, Theodore Veniamis, expressed exasperation with the international regulatory process for shipping and the way the industry is viewed.

Intercargo chairman aims parting shots at regulators 

UGS president Veniamis attacks 'intense negativism' towards shipping

In terms of the outlook for shipping there was mixed news with UNCTAD seeing improved seaborne trade growth and NYK president Tadaaki Naito warning that companies such as his own needed to adapt to the changing landscape of digitalisation and environmental pressures or die.

Global seaborne trade expanding at improved 4% rate: UNCTAD

At 133 years old NYK needs to transform or die chief warns