News

Heavy fuel oil ban in Arctic waters gains support among Norwegian shipowners

Publish date: June 29, 2017

Today The Norwegian Shipowners’ Association stated their support for a ban on the use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) in Arctic waters, a move Bellona strongly welcomes. They promise to pursue this ban within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Today The Norwegian Shipowners’ Association stated their support for a ban on the use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) in Arctic waters, a move Bellona strongly welcomes. They promise to pursue this ban within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

HFO is already banned in the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and in the coastal areas of the US and Canada. Ironically, however, it is still allowed in the world’s most vulnerable ecosystems: the Arctic. About 44 percent of ships operating in the Arctic use HFO. The ships emit CO2, sulphur and soot which accumulate in Arctic ice and act to accelerate ice melt by weakening its ability to reflect solar radiation. Increased shipping activity in the Arctic also raises the risk of a major oil spill. Moreover, an accident involving a mega ship and spill of HFO in the Arctic would represent an environmental disaster. If spilled in cold Arctic waters, HFO will have larger consequences than anywhere else.

Shipping activities in the Arctic waters are increasing, both as a result of tourism and exploitative industries’ activities. According to the Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment (AMSA), a working group of the Arctic Council, there are approximately 6 000 operational vessels in the Arctic, of which 1 600 belong to the fishing industry.

First step towards change

Bellona has for a long time pursued the banning of HFO in the Arctic, together with Arctic express Hurtigruten and Clean Arctic Alliance among others, and welcomes this positive and progressive standpoint for a green change in the shipping industry. Bellona urges ship owners to adopt the necessary regulations now; otherwise the shift to greener technology will take longer and be more expensive. Best available technologies, such as battery hybrid solutions, must be deployed in the Arctic. Yet, the very first step is to ban the dirtiest and cheapest fuel.

A ban would also include ships sailing to and from Greenland, Iceland, Russia, Canada and Alaska, as well as ships sailing between Europe and Asia through the North-eastern passage. Climate change is making the shorter Nordic route more attractive and thus exposing it to increased shipping.

Breaking the vicious circle

Earlier this year, the EU Parliament called for an international HFO ban through the IMO. The EU also threatens to close its harbours for HFO-powered ships operating in the Arctic, should the IMO fail to ensure timely action.

As one of the first shipping companies to support the ban, Hurtigruten has phased out the use of any HFO in their ships. Although, initially more costly, cutting reliance on HFO is a necessary move for protecting the fragile waters for coming generations, while aligning shipping emissions with objectives of the Paris Agreement.

The issue will also be raised in the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting in London this week. Norway, Canada, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and the US have tabled a proposal for a HFO ban, and while a final decision is not to be expected at the meeting we are to see first reactions from other Member States.

More News

All news

6th meeting of the Carbon Removal Expert Group summary and feedback 

The Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) has been formally approved by the Council on the 19th of November 2024 and entered into force on the 9th of December 2024, providing an official mandate for the Commission to develop methodologies on carbon farming and carbon removals. However, the technical documents and specifications are still being drafted and revised for input from the Carbon Removals Expert Group (CREG), of which Bellona is a member. 

Photo: Christening of Northern Lights’ first CO₂ carrier in Stavanger in 2025, by Olav Øye

A great leap towards a scaled European market for CCS: Northern Lights expands storage capacity, will store CO₂ from Stockholm  

Europe’s only multi-source, injection-ready CO₂ storage site will more than triple its capacity by 2028. The decision follows an agreement with Stockholm Exergi to transport and store up to 800 – 900 kilotonnes of CO₂ per year. “This decision is years in the making, and the culmination of decades of hard work from many, Bellona included” says Bellona Europa Director Jonas Helseth.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get our latest news

Stay informed