Some observers have compared IMO2020- the restrictions on sulfur in marine fuels which took effect on Jan 1, 2020 -with the Y2K drama of two decades back.
During the Y2K runup, there was much consternation and fears that all computers would stop running, shutting down commerce and everything else. Fast forward to the end of 2019, with great concerns that vessels could not source compliant fuel, or worse- that various blends would gum up cylinders in vessel engines.
The year 2020 saw a whole host of problems for the maritime business sectors, but fuel problems were not at the top of the league tables; fuel matters paled in comparison to more serious issues that arose. Like the computer non-crisis 20 years prior, maritime businesses had time to anticipate and prepare.
2020 marked the implementation of the much anticipated global 0.5% m/m sulphur cap regulation, commonly referred to as IMO-2020. However, the potential consequences from the fallout of IMO-2020 were overshadowed by the impact of COVID-19.
The pandemic also forced the International Maritime Organization (IMO) meetings planned to be held between March and July 2020 to be postponed and reconstructed on a virtual platform during the later part of this year, which effectively slowed down the pace of some key work done on the regulatory front. Even though the challenges posed by the pandemic remain a crucial issue for the maritime sector, it is not the only one, as the effects of climate change demand environmental issues to remain a high priority.
2020 marked the implementation of the much anticipated global 0.5% m/m sulphur cap regulation, commonly referred to as IMO-2020. However, the potential consequences from the fallout of IMO-2020 were overshadowed by the impact of COVID-19.
The pandemic also forced the International Maritime Organization (IMO) meetings planned to be held between March and July 2020 to be postponed and reconstructed on a virtual platform during the later part of this year, which effectively slowed down the pace of some key work done on the regulatory front. Even though the challenges posed by the pandemic remain a crucial issue for the maritime sector, it is not the only one, as the effects of climate change demand environmental issues to remain a high priority.
IMO Secretary-General denounces âno crew changeâ clauses in charterparties
Charterers’ “no crew change” clauses aggravate the ongoing crew change crisis and further threaten safety of navigation, says IMO Secretary-General.
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has spoken out against “no crew change” clauses in charterparties, pointing out that such clauses exacerbate the dire situation of stranded seafarers and undermine the efforts undertaken to resolve the ongoing crew change crisis.
So-called “no crew change” clauses, which are demanded by certain charterers, state that no crew changes can occur whilst the charterer’s cargo is onboard – hence not allowing the ship to deviate to ports where crew changes could take place. IMO’s Seafarer Crisis Action Team (SCAT) has been made aware of this worrying development in recent weeks.