Four major maritime organisations are calling for strict enforcement of pending IMO 2020 rules to ensure a level playing field across the entire industry.
The World Shipping Council, Bimco, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and International Parcel Tankers Association (IPTA) urge full compliance.
At that time, the sulphur content for bunker burnt by all ships will be limited to 0.5%, down from International Maritime Organization's (IMO) current allowance of 3.5%.
The IMO should remind all member states of this pending rule, to be enforced by nations worldwide, the agencies said.
“Recent reports suggesting that some nations might not fully implement the new rules are disturbing," World Shipping Council chief executive John Butler said.
“We urge any country considering deviation to abandon those ideas and put plans in place to fulfill their enforcement responsibilities as of January 1, 2020, and we encourage the IMO to remind member states of their commitments."
The cruise industry plans to comply through low-sulphur fuels, exhaust gas scrubbers and new LNG-propelled ships, said Brian Salerno, CLIA's senior vice president for environmental policy.
"Consistent application of the requirements globally remains critical, as adopted by the IMO,” he said.
Non-compliance puts the health of coastal populations at risk, Bimco chief executive Angus Frew said.
IPTA is fully supportive of the pending sulphur limit, chairman Manish Jain said.
"1 January 2020 will herald a major change for ship operations and IPTA members have been working hard to prepare for it," he said.
"It is important that IMO member states play their part in ensuring consistent implementation of the global sulphur cap that they developed and adopted.
