Carriage of Palm Oil Mill Effluent
There has been considerable confusion in recent years over the carriage of Palm oil mill effluent, and even exactly what it is. The ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) has recently issued a guidance document on POME which clarifies that POME is the “unavoidable wastewater arising from palm oil production at a palm oil mill”, and POME oil is the oil recovered from that wastewater. In October 2021 the ESPH working group agreed to carriage requirements proposed by Finland in respect of two POME products, namely Palm oil mill effluent oil and Palm oil mill effluent oil fatty acid distillate. These submissions had been made following evaluation of the data provided to the GESAMP group of scientists and the assignment of GESAMP Hazard Profiles. Both products were assessed as pollution category Y and ship type 2, and it was agreed that the previous entry for Palm oil mill effluent technical oil with pollution category X that had been agreed earlier in the year as a precautionary approach should be deleted. The two new entries will appear in List 1 of MEPC.2/Circ. 27.
Covid-19: Recommendations and Guidance
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic a number of sets of guidance and recommendations have been issued to assist in maintaining the global supply chain and ensuring the welfare of seafarers. The documents can be accessed via a dedicated area of the IMO website: http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx For ease of reference we attach some key documents below. Preliminary recommendations for governments and national authorities on the facilitation of maritime trade during the Covid-19 pandemic: https://docs.imo.org/Shared/Download.aspx?did=122607 Framework of protocols for ensuring safe ship crew changes and travel: http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Documents/COVID%20CL%204204%20adds/Circular%20Letter%20No.4204-Add.14%20-%20Coronavirus%20(Covid-19)%20-%20Recommended%20Framework%20Of%20Protocols.pdf Guidelines for ensuring a safe ship-shore interface between ship and shore-based personnel: https://www.dropbox.com/s/8u1h3ajpi1o0hup/Covid-19%20Ship-Shore%20Interface.pdf?dl=0 Operational considerations for managing Covid-19 outbreaks on board ships: http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Documents/Circular%20Letter%20No.4204-Add.3.pdf
BMP West Africa
Increasing concern about the safety of seafarers on the coast of West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea has led to the publication of Best Management Practices to Deter Piracy and Enhance Maritime Security off the coast of West Africa including the Gulf of Guinea with the aim of helping ships to avoid becoming victims of such incidents. https://www.maritimeglobalsecurity.org/media/1046/bmp-west-africa.pdf
International Maritime Research Board
The proposal originated by a wide group of industry associations for the establishment of an International Maritime Research and Development Board and Fund aimed at generating core funding of around USD 5 billion over a 10-year period to be used to accelerate the development of commercially viable zero-carbon emission ships was updated and submitted to MEPC 76 with a number of member state co-signatories. The $5billion is envisaged to be collected through a mandatory contribution of around $2 per tonne of fuel delivered to ships, but the paper also envisages contributions from other stakeholders, such as engine manufacturers and shipyards, potentially increasing the funding available. The proposal sets out details for governance and funding of the coordinated R&D programme, which could be put in place by 2023 via amendments to MARPOL Annex VI. It should be noted that this proposal is not designed as a market-based measure. It is an attempt to encourage the development of systems that will allow the industry to decarbonise. Only once alternative fuels and technologies are commercially available will there be any value in discussing ways to encourage their uptake, although it will still be necessary to take into account the views of developing countries who have genuine concerns that any levy pitched at too high a level could have a detrimental impact on their trade. The reaction to the proposal at MEPC 76 was mixed, with support from a number of member states, but opposition from others, particularly those who support the introduction in the short term of a market-based-measure. The proposal will be discussed further at MEPC 77 in November.