Arctic ban hits HFO (dirty fuel) ships

BTN News
Tuesday, 02 July 2024

Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), the dirtiest and most climate-damaging fuel for ships in Arctic waters, is being banned.


HFO is widely used in shipping, especially in tankers, and is particularly damaging in the Arctic, where the black carbon it emits when it's burned speeds up snow and ice melt rates. It is 'almost impossible' to clean up if a spill occurs, experts say.

However, the ban will have little immediate impact, because 'loopholes' will allow the vast majority of ships to use the fuel until 2029, with the International Council on Clean Transportation estimating about 74 per cent of ships that use HFO today will be able to continue to do so.

In climate terms, it is particularly dangerous, producing large amounts of planet-warming gas when burned and also emitting particles called 'black carbon'.

The oil was banned from use or transport in the Antarctic in 2011, but countries that border the Arctic can exempt their ships when they are in their own territorial waters and Russia, which has over 800 ships operating in northern waters, is not implementing the new regulation.

Arctic ban hits HFO (dirty fuel) ships

BTN News
Tuesday, 02 July 2024

Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), the dirtiest and most climate-damaging fuel for ships in Arctic waters, is being banned.


HFO is widely used in shipping, especially in tankers, and is particularly damaging in the Arctic, where the black carbon it emits when it's burned speeds up snow and ice melt rates. It is 'almost impossible' to clean up if a spill occurs, experts say.

However, the ban will have little immediate impact, because 'loopholes' will allow the vast majority of ships to use the fuel until 2029, with the International Council on Clean Transportation estimating about 74 per cent of ships that use HFO today will be able to continue to do so.

In climate terms, it is particularly dangerous, producing large amounts of planet-warming gas when burned and also emitting particles called 'black carbon'.

The oil was banned from use or transport in the Antarctic in 2011, but countries that border the Arctic can exempt their ships when they are in their own territorial waters and Russia, which has over 800 ships operating in northern waters, is not implementing the new regulation.