Tue 10 Apr 2018, 01:19 GMT

HFO ban: Arctic awareness event at MEPC 72


Short presentations to be delivered by shipping, science, indigenous and non-governmental representatives.


IMO headquarters in London.
Image credit: Flickr
The Clean Arctic Alliance is hosting a side event, sponsored by the Clean Shipping Coalition, at the 72nd session of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) on Tuesday April 10, at 17:45 hrs.

Entitled 'The Climate Crisis: A message from the Arctic', the aim of the event, according to Clean Arctic Alliance, is to increase awareness among IMO delegates about the local and global consequences of the current changes taking place in the Arctic, and "to demonstrate the necessity for IMO to agree an ambitious strategy to reduce greenhouse gases from shipping globally and a regional ban on HFO in the Arctic".

The event will consist of a panel presentation involving four short 5-7 minute presentations, followed by a reception.

IMO registration is required to attend side events.

Speakers include:

- Science: Dirk Notz, Max Planck Institute for Meteorology

- Indigenous voice: Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Canada, Environmental, Cultural and Human Rights Advocate

- Non-governmental: Faig Abbasov, Transport & Environment and Clean Shipping Coalition

- Shipping industry: Jorn Henriksen, Hurtigruten

The event will be moderated by Jytte Guteland, Member of the European Parliament.

Arctic indigenous attendees at MEPC72

Arctic indigenous representatives are in London to demand the creation of a consistent indigenous representation to the IMO, and also to explain why shipping issues related to climate change and environmental protection are important to Arctic communities.

They will be attending IMO meetings as part of NGO delegations, take part in side events, and also plan to meet with the IMO Secretary General.

Other Arctic indigenous representatives, in addition to the previously mentioned Sheila Watt-Cloutier, are:

- Verner Wilson, Alaska, Friends of the Earth, formerly with the Bristol Bay Native Association

- Austin Ahmasuk, Alaska, Kawerak, Inc. (Bering Straits regional non-profit)

- Eduard Zdor, Russian Federation, former director of the Chukotka Marine Mammal Hunters Association

On Monday, April 9, Verner Wilson, Austin Ahmusak and Eduard Zdor spoke at an IMO side event entitled 'Arctic indigenous voices: Climate change, new shipping routes and solutions for mitigation and adaptation'.


Washington State Hybrid-Electric 160-Auto Ferry vessel render. Corvus Energy to supply battery systems for Washington State Ferries hybrid vessels  

ABB selects Corvus for two new 160-vehicle ferries as part of $3.98bn electrification plan.

Vinssen and Mana Engineering sign MoU. Vinssen, Mana Engineering partner on hydrogen fuel cell retrofit for 800-teu feeder vessel  

South Korean and Dutch firms to pursue Lloyd’s Register approval for hybrid retrofit concept.

Hercules Elisabeth vessel. Hercules Tanker Management takes delivery of second Ultra-Spec vessel in China  

Hercules Elisabeth is the second of 10 hybrid-ready tankers designed for alternative fuels.

Wolf 1 vessel. Petrol Ofisi launches fuel supply tanker Wolf 1  

Turkish bunker supplier adds 1,750-dwt vessel with alternative fuel infrastructure to fleet.

BIMCO meeting. BIMCO to convene for adoption of biofuel clause and ETS provisions at February meeting  

Documentary Committee to consider new contractual frameworks for alternative fuels and emission trading scheme compliance.

Sea Change II vessel render. Incat Crowther and Switch Maritime develop 150-passenger hydrogen ferry for New York  

Design work begins on 28-metre vessel with 720 kg hydrogen capacity and 25-knot speed.

Aerial view of a container vessel. HIF Global signs heads of agreement with German eFuel One for 100,000 tonnes of e-methanol annually  

Deal covers supply from HIF’s Uruguay project, with e-methanol meeting EU RED III standards.

Welcoming of Kota Odyssey at Jordan’s Aqaba Container Terminal. PIL’s LNG-powered vessel makes maiden call at Jordan’s Aqaba port  

Kota Odyssey is Pacific International Lines’ first LNG-fuelled ship to call at the Red Sea port.

Celsius vessel. RMK Marine to equip Celsius LNG bunker vessel with gas combustion unit  

Turkish shipbuilder adds specialised equipment to support cool-down and gassing-up operations for LNG vessels.

CSL and CMA CGM contract signing. Cochin Shipyard signs contract with CMA CGM for six LNG-fuelled container vessels  

Indian shipbuilder to construct vessels for French shipping company.