German Maritime LNG Platform has signed the Arctic Commitment, joining a number of international companies, organizations, politicians and polar explorers calling for a ban on heavy fuel oil (HFO) use in Arctic shipping.
“The Clean Arctic Alliance welcomes the German Maritime LNG Platform as a signatory of the Arctic Commitment. The LNG Platform joins a growing international movement calling for a ban on the use of HFO by ships in the Arctic’s pristine and fragile environment,” Sian Prior, Lead Advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance , a coalition of international non-governmental organizations that launched the Arctic Commitment in January 2017.
“By switching to less-polluting alternatives to HFO, such as LNG, the shipping industry has a real opportunity to lead the path away from the use of heavy fuel oil and towards a sustainable future, before a ban is considered by the IMO,” Prior added.
The platform’s support comes ahead of IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) that will be held in July. According to Prior, it’s time for companies and governments to support decisive action to clean up Arctic shipping.
“We’re delighted to support the Arctic Commitment and throw our weight behind the international campaign to ban the use of HFO as a shipping fuel in the Arctic region. Shipping needs to become more sustainable and international regulation on shipping emissions is increasing, for the better. Such regulations must also apply to the Arctic region , ” Tessa Rodewaldt, Managing Director of the Maritime LNG Platform , stressed.
The Clean Arctic Alliance is an international coalition of non-governmental groups campaigning for an IMO ban on HFO from Arctic shipping. The German partner of the alliance is the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU).
The German Maritime LNG Platform is an interest coalition of nearly 100 members and partners from the maritime sector both in Germany and abroad. Its objective is the establishment of a cleaner and more sustainable shipping sector through the use of LNG to substantially reduce pollutant emissions, such as SOx, NOx, CO2 and particulate matter (PM).