Prohibition on Use and Carriage of Oils in Arctic Waters: IMO outlines amendments to MARPOL Annex I regarding the use and carriage of oils as fuel by ships in Arctic waters. It sets specific dates for the prohibition of such activities in Arctic waters and provides provisions for waivers by coastal states. These amendments are aimed at reducing the environmental risks associated with heavy fuel oil use in the fragile Arctic ecosystem.
Starting from July 1, 2024, the use and carriage of oils listed in Regulation 43.1.2 of MARPOL Annex I as fuel by ships shall be prohibited in Arctic waters, as defined in Regulation 46.2 of this Annex. This prohibition applies to all ships except those engaged in securing the safety of ships, search and rescue operations, and ships dedicated to oil spill preparedness and response.
For ships subject to Regulation 12A of MARPOL Annex I or Regulation 1.2.1 of Chapter 1 of Part II-A of the Polar Code, the use and carriage of oils listed in Regulation 43.1.2 of this Annex as fuel shall be prohibited in Arctic waters from July 1, 2029.
Tank Cleaning Requirement: The amendment states that when prior operations have included the use and carriage of oils listed in Regulation 43.1.2 of MARPOL Annex I as fuel, the cleaning or flushing of tanks or pipelines is not required.
Waivers by Coastal States: Coastal states that border Arctic waters may temporarily waive the requirements of the prohibition for ships flying their flag while operating in waters subject to their sovereignty or jurisdiction. However, these waivers will not be valid on or after July 1, 2029. IMO will develop guidelines for the implementation of these waivers.
Communication of Waivers: Coastal states issuing waivers must communicate the particulars of the waiver to the IMO for circulation to all Parties to the MARPOL Convention for their information and appropriate action.
For more details on the amendments, please see IMO MEPC.329(76) – Prohibition on the use and carriage for use as fuel of heavy fuel oil
by ships in Arctic waters.