Several IMO meetings IBIA planned to take part in have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently all meetings scheduled up until the mid- June have been postponed “until further notice” and it remains unknown if or when they will be rescheduled. In response to the exceptional circumstances, the… …more…
IMO page for COVID-19 advice
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set up a public page containing a whole host of advice and information about COVID-19 and its impacts on shipping for IMO Member States, seafarers and shipping. It contains information circulated by IMO, documents regarding safety or port and port State control measures of… …more…
New chairman and board members at IBIA
As of 1 April, 2020, the International Bunker Industry Association welcomes Henrik Zederkof as the new Chairman of the Board, along with a new Vice-Chairman, Treasurer and four newly elected IBIA board members now officially taking up their posts. We are pleased to announce that the acting board of IBIA… …more…
It’s business, just not as usual – a message from IBIA
How quickly the world has changed. No sooner had we navigated relatively successfully into the new 2020 global low-sulphur era, when an unexpected and unprecedented challenge came our way. The coronavirus, or COVID-19, has caused a rapidly developing global emergency with impacts that we will not fully understand for some… …more…
COVID-19: Precautionary measures for bunkering operations
In light of the ongoing global developments surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, IBIA is looking to offer practical advice to our members to mitigate the risk of infection during bunkering operations. Given the international nature of shipping, the contact between ship and shore personnel during the bunkering process involves a possible… …more…
IBIA statement on EGCS discussion at IMO’s PPR meeting: avoid confirmation bias
IBIA made a statement during the February session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 7) under the agenda item where the IMO is grappling with the contentious issue of discharges to water from exhaust gas cleaning systems, or scrubbers. Bans on open loop discharges have been… …more…
Call for IMO database on local and regional EGCS discharge water restrictions
As the IMO is working on a harmonised approach to the sensitive subject of restricting discharge water from exhaust gas cleaning systems, or scrubbers, there has been a call for developing a centralised database detailing local/regional restrictions/conditions on the discharge water from EGCS. At present, bans on open loop scrubber… …more…
IMO meeting sets out workplan to harmonise approach to EGCS discharges
A scope has been drafted for factors to consider when assessing the discharges from exhaust gas cleaning systems, or scrubbers, as part of the IMO’s work to harmonise rules and guidance on the subject. There have been unilateral moves to implement restrictions on the use of open loop scrubbers in… …more…
Revision of EGCS guidelines completed
Revised IMO guidelines for the approval and certification of exhaust gas cleaning systems, or scrubbers, are due for adoption at the next meeting of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 75). Regulation 4 of MARPOL Annex VI on “Equivalents” allows for the use of alternative compliance methods if they provide… …more…
Guidelines for taking onboard samples to support HSFO carriage ban
The IMO has developed guidelines for taking so-called “onboard” samples of fuel from ships, a move that will enable relevant authorities to take samples to check if ships are complying with the high sulphur fuel oil carriage ban that takes effect on 1 March. Ships are alrady prohibited from using… …more…
