The UK P&I Club has teamed up with Blank Rome’s Jeanne Grasso and Peacock Piper’s David Tong, who discuss current environmental and compliance trends both on a Federal and State level for California.
The new Environment Examination Regulation number 31509 dated 12 June 2021 was published and contained inspection information, and does not contain any increase on fine amount, thus the Pollution tariff 2021 is still valid.
Global warming is one of the most severe and complex challenges our world faces today; there is an urgent need to reduce emission levels and avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change and every individual, business, and industry, including shipping, has a part to play.
The IMO announced that two new draft mandatory measures to cut the carbon intensity of existing ships have been agreed by its Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships.
This Client Alert adds to the Club’s recent update reporting on EPA’s announcement of 6 October that it was proposing vessel discharge standards under VIDA.
A new law was signed in California on 24th September 2020 for Members trading in California waters, which will bring the following increases in criminal penalties for oil spill related offences from 1st January 2021.
On 6 October 2020, EPA issued a news release (click here) stating that it is proposing standards to reduce the environmental impact of discharges, such as ballast water, that are incidental to the normal operation of commercial vessels.
The Club’s correspondents for Ghana has highlighted the recent increase in MARPOL fines levied against vessels calling in Ghana's ports (Takoradi and Tema), particularly with relation to the discharge of sewage.
The Poseidon Principles, launched in New York on 18 June 2019, is an agreement reached between the finance sector and the shipping industry to integrate the IMO’s policies on climate change.
While no changes are anticipated in the US enforced Emission Control Areas (ECAs) on or after 1 January, 2020, US regions outside the ECAs will need to ensure compliance with the IMO’s 2020 global 0.5% sulphur cap from 1 January, 2020.
The Government of Iceland have issued a news release stating that, effective 1 January 2020, the permissible sulphur content of marine fuels used in the territorial sea and internal waters of Iceland will be lowered from 3.5% to 0.1%.
Members are referred to ECM Maritime Services LLC’s Client Alert 21-2019 for details of ACP’s updated fuel requirements for vessels anchoring, transiting through and docking at terminals in Panama Canal waters. These requirements will apply from 1 January 2020, in compliance with IMO 2020.
From 1 January 2020, the new 0.5% m/m global limit for sulphur in fuel used on board ships comes into effect. Parties in the bunker chain i.e. those involved in the production, distribution, storage, handling and use of bunker fuels have expressed concerns over the practical implementation of this new global limit, a substantial drop from the current 3.5% m/m. A Joint Industry Project (JIP) was therefore established to raise awareness of the issues which might arise.
The MARPOL permitted limit for sulphur content in ships’ bunker will be reduced from 3.5% m/m to 0.50% m/m for ships operating outside designated emission control areas.
Helen Huang – Senior Claims Executive from Thomas Miller’s Hong Kong office provides an introduction to China’s marine oil pollution laws with a discussion on the relevant International Conventions, China’s domestic laws and Ship Pollution Response Organisations (SPROs).
