The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) says it is encouraged by efforts made by IMO Member States to resolve some pressing practical challenges ahead of the global implementation of the 0.5% sulphur in fuel cap on Jan. 1, 2020. The ICS statements came after an IMO working group meeting last week, to which the industry submitted a number of constructive proposals to help ensure smooth and consistent implementation.

ICS said the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)’s position is that “the existing industry standard for marine fuel oils, ISO 8217, already addresses the new 0.5% fuel blends that will be used by many ships to comply in 2020,” and ISO “will be providing guidance on the application of the standard to these new blended fuels”.

To push further progress, ICS has welcomed IMO’s development of a template for ship-specific implementation plans, which will be adopted by the Marine Environment Protection Committee in October.

You can read industry submissions to IMO at: http://www.ics-shipping.org/submissions/imo.