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NGO coalition the Clean Arctic Alliance has welcomed the support given by member states to commence work on developing a ban on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil (HFO) in Arctic waters.

Support for commencing work to mitigate the risks of using and carrying HFO fuel in the Arctic - which includes developing a ban at the next Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response meeting (PPR6) in February 2019 - was voiced by Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Poland, and the UK.

MEPC 73 discussions on mitigating the risks associated with the use and carriage of HFO in the Arctic focused on developing the appropriate methodology to conduct an impact assessment on Arctic communities and economies of a proposed HFO ban. It was suggested that not only an appropriate impact assessment methodology, but also the results of impact assessments already carried out, could be submitted to PPR6 for consideration.

If the benefit of a ban on HFO is seen as outweighing the potential negative impact on Arctic communities, it will result in a proposal for a ban - and also require a definition of HFO to be developed, the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) notes.

"We're pleased with progress made at MEPC this week, and the support given by several member states to ensure that work to develop a ban on use and carriage of heavy fuel oil by ships in Arctic waters will now commence early in 2019," said Dr Sian Prior, Lead Advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance.

"It is important that this work is concluded swiftly, so that the ban can be adopted in 2021, and phased in by 2023. We look forward to considering information from Arctic countries including Canada, United States, Greenland (Denmark), and Russia on the potential social, economic and environmental impacts of a ban."

Verner Wilson, Senior Oceans Campaigner, Friends of the Earth US and member of the Curyung Tribal Council in Bristol Bay, Alaska, said: "IMO member state governments have banned HFO in Antarctic waters; now they have the responsibility to give the same protection to Arctic waters, on which our communities depend."