The environmental group, Pacific Environment, has called upon the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to place a ban on the use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) in the Arctic region.
During this week’s Marine Environment Protection Committee’s (MEPC) 69th session the environmental group is hoping that the decision will be made to prohibit the use of HFO in Arctic waters following the 2010 ban in Antarctic waters that is to take full effect this year.
As polar ice recedes, increased Arctic vessel traffic increases the urgency to craft protections for fragile Arctic marine environments and communities. The Arctic’s remote and fragile environment, requires immediate care to prevent ecosystem damage in a region which has yet to be regulated regarding the use of HFO.
A ban on HFO would reduce the emissions of black carbon from Arctic shipping that has detrimental impacts on polar ice sheet melt and climate change. Furthermore, the threat Arctic Shipping has to indigenous people is on the rise as new Arctic shipping routes are explored. Risk from oil spills is great and those that depend on marine resources for food are left at extreme vulnerabilities in the event of an oil spill.
In a report published by Allianz in March this year, they revealed that Arctic casualties are rising with over 70 reported shipping incidents in Arctic Circle waters during 2015—up almost 30% year-on-year. Although the company says that the incoming Polar Code is welcomed, safety questions remain about best practices and clean-up of Arctic oil spills.
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