IMO adopts Arctic heavy fuel oil ban

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has adopted a ban on the use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) and its carriage for use by ships in the Arctic region after 1 July 2024. However, according to Arctic Today, the ban has been heavily criticised by environmentalists as a series of exemptions and waivers mean a complete HFO ban will only come into effect in mid-2029.

The IMO has also adopted new mandatory measures requiring all ships to combine a technical and an operational approach to reduce their carbon intensity. This is in line with the ambition of the IMO’s initial GHG (greenhouse gas) strategy, which aims to reduce the carbon intensity of international shipping by 40% by 2030, compared to 2008. Two new measures have been adopted – a technical requirement to reduce carbon intensity based on a new Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI); and operational carbon intensity reduction requirements based on a new operational carbon intensity indicator (CII). The dual approach aims to address both technical (how the ship is equipped and retrofitted ) and operational measures (how the ship operates).