Liberia is asking the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that shipowners give an early heads-up on IMO 2020 compliant fuels.
The flag state has submitted a paper to the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) calling for early reporting to IMO on such availability "well in advance" of the 1 January 2020 deadline to lower ship exhaust sulphur content to 0.5%.
“Shipowners and operators hold a disproportionate responsibility in meeting the challenges associated with implementation of the 0.50 percent m/m global fuel oil sulphur limit and should not need to guess where or whether compliant fuel will be available," said David Pascoe, Liberian Registry's senior vice president of maritime operations and standards.
“Smooth and effective implementation requires co-operation and compliance by all stakeholders, including states and fuel oil suppliers."
IMO was not immediately available for comment.
Pascoe said it is "critical" that states promote and report port availability to IMO under Marpol and Safety of Life at Sea convention rules.
They may do so through IMO’s global integrated shipping information system, he said.
“We are therefore urging IMO to issue a resolution or circular calling on states to report the availability of compliant fuel oil well in advance of 1 January 2020," he said.
Liberia is co-sponsoring an IMO paper proposing establishment of an experience building phase to address 2020 compliant fuel safety implications and other challenges.
Contrary to some inaccurate media reports, the paper proposing the EBP is not intended to delay the 1 January, 2020 compliance date," Pascoe said.
"That date has been agreed previously and supported by Liberia.”
