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Cruise operators are preparing to drop the Antarctic from their schedules as a result of a proposed ban on the use and carriage of heavy fuel by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

A number of cruise lines have already announced that they will no longer be operating in Atlantic waters. Voyages of Discovery and Saga have removed the area from their 2009/10 cruise programmes, whilst Swan Hellenic has said that it will be pulling out of the Antarctic in 2010.

Meanwhile, Norwegian firm Hurtigruten has said that it has already cut back from two ships to one in the region.

The withdrawals follow a meeting by the IMO's Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases (BLG) in London on March 2-6 2009. If approved, the sub-committee's draft amendments to protect the Antarctic would lead not only to a ban on the use but also the carriage of heavy fuel oil in Antarctic waters.

The draft amendments, which will be submitted to the Marine Environment Protection Committee in July 2009, for approval with a view to adoption, would add a new chapter 9 to MARPOL Annex I with a new regulation (43) which would prohibit the carriage in bulk as cargo, or carriage and use as fuel, of:

* Crude oil having a density at 15°C higher than 900 kg/m3;

* Oils, other than crude oils, having a density at 15°C higher than 900 kg/m3 or a kinematic viscosity at 50°C higher than 180 mm2/s;

* Bitumen, tar and their emulsions.

An exception is envisaged for vessels engaged in securing the safety of ships or in a search and rescue operation.

The new rules would mean that cruise ships sailing in the Antarctic would only be able to carry marine gas oil (MGO), which could cost operators several million dollars extra per season.

Currently, cruise vessels use MGO when sailing south of 60 degrees latitude and heavy fuels when north of this point. If approved, the new proposals would require cruise ships to use MGO for the entire voyage.

The proposed amendments follow the sinking of the 2,400-ton Gap Adventures' MS Explorer off the Antarctic Peninsula in 2007. The incident served to highlight the need for stricter controls over cruise vessels sailing in the region.

In December 2008, the Argentinian cruise ship MV Ushuaia ran aground in the Antarctic, suffering a puncture in two of its diesel tanks and spilling fuel into the open water.

Last month the Falkland Islands Tourist Board (FITB) expressed its concern over the impact of a ban on the Falklands cruise industry.

It said that feedback from the Seatrade Convention highlighted that if the policy is implemented it may also have an impact on the large vessels which call into the Falklands as well as some of the expedition vessels.

The FITB's General Manager Jake Downing commented "What is particularly disquieting about this development is that the intention of the ban seems only to be on tourist, fishing and cargo vessels. Military vessels, supply vessels, salvage vessels and SAR vessels will not be affected."

IMO's Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases (BLG) was set up to consider matters related to the following subjects:

* prevention and control of marine pollution from ships and other related maritime operations involved in the transport and handling of oil and dangerous and noxious liquids substances in bulk;

* evaluation of hazards of dangerous and noxious liquid substances in bulk transported by ships;

* control and management of ships' ballast water and sediments;

* construction, equipment and operational requirements for ships carrying bulk liquids and gases;

* protection of personnel involved in the transport of bulk liquids and gases; and

* survey and certification of ships constructed to carry bulk liquids and gases.

The fifty-ninth session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee to be held at IMO Headquarters, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR from Monday 13th July to Friday 17th July 2009