Greek shipping interests raise concerns over compliant fuel

From Lloyd’s List:

“Greek shipping interests raise concerns over compliant fuel”

London-based GSCC urges the IMO to bring together the main stakeholders, including oil companies, bunker suppliers and engine makers to guarantee low-sulphur fuel will be ‘fit for purpose’. Its chairman Haralambos Fafalios said the issue was of greater importance than the debate on the pros and cons of scrubbers

Concerns linger about the safety and sufficiency of compliant fuel, according to the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee, which has urged the International Maritime Organization to bring together the most important stakeholders

LONDON-based Greek shipping interests say there is still work to be done to convince the industry that the transition to low-sulphur fuel will be smooth.

Questions remain over how much compliant fuel will be available, its compatibility with today’s marine propulsion systems and how any damage to ships, engines and the environment caused by the changeover can be minimised, according to the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee.

“To achieve this we strongly urge the International Maritime Organization to bring together the main stakeholders in this arena — the oil companies, bunker suppliers, main engine manufacturers and class to guarantee that the new fuel will be fit for purpose,” said committee chairman Haralambos Fafalios.

Speaking at the body’s New Year meeting, he said that those aspects were “most important” and “more fundamental” than the debate on the merits or demerits of scrubbers.

The committee had “a pool of knowledge and experience second to none” and had contributed to the international debate on many maritime issues.

It fully supported the IMO and wanted to “work together” on the 2020-related concerns as well as the IMO’s 2050 goal for greenhouse gas reduction.

The GSCC liaises closely with the Union of Greek Shipowners and voiced pride that the Greek-owned fleet continued growing and renewing, resulting in “a very modern, safe and green fleet”.

At the same time Mr Fafalios said that his organisation supported London’s “quest to remain the epicentre of the world’s shipping industry”.

However, it was difficult to predict “how the Brexit issue will resolve itself”, he said.