• 2018 November 2 16:52

    BIMCO to discuss the 2020 Transitional Fuel Clause on November 13

    BIMCO reports that its 2020 Bunker Clause working group is pushing hard to finish work on two key clauses addressing the global switch to 0.5% sulphur content fuel on 1 January 2020.

    The “2020 Global Marine Fuel Sulphur Content Clause”, which is a general compliance provision, will be put forward for adoption by BIMCO’s Documentary Committee on 13 November. The drafting team has also prepared a first draft of a clause dealing with the transition to 0.5% sulphur content – the “2020 Transitional Fuel Clause”.

    The 2020 Transitional Fuel Clause will be discussed by BIMCO’s Documentary Committee on 13 November.

    “The feedback provided by the Committee will be used to further refine the clause immediately afterwards. Furthermore, the sub-committee will ask the Documentary Committee to fast track the clause with the aim to issue the 2020 Global Marine Fuel Sulphur Content Clause and the 2020 Transitional Fuel Clause together as a package,” says BIMCO’s Head of Contracts and Clauses, Grant Hunter.

    At the core of the 2020 Global Marine Fuel Sulphur Content Clause is an obligation on owners and charterers to comply with the sulphur content requirements of MARPOL Annex VI. Fuels supplied by the charterers have to meet not only the MARPOL Annex VI requirements, but also the specifications and grades set out in the charter party. Importantly, the charterers must also use bunker suppliers and barge operators who will comply with MARPOL requirements throughout the supply chain.

    Owner and charter cooperation is essential
    The 2020 Transitional Fuel Clause recognises that owners and time charterers will have to cooperate in the run up to 1 January 2020 to manage fuel supplies to minimise the amount of non-compliant fuel on board the ship on the coming in to force date. Any non-compliant fuel on board belonging to the charterers after 1 January 2020 will need to be discharged from the ship and disposed of at charterers’ risk, time and cost latest by the 1 March 2020 carriage ban date, or by the redelivery date – whichever comes first. It will be the owners’ responsibility to clean empty fuel tanks to prepare them to receive 0.5% sulphur content fuel.

    The clause emphasises the need for cooperation in planning and preparation to ensure a smooth as possible transition to the new low sulphur fuel.

    A requirement to segregate fuels of different grades is a common provision in most time charter parties. However, there are concerns that new 0.5% sulphur content fuel may have compatibility issues even between stems produced by the same oil company. To minimise the risk of incompatibility between stems of 0.5% sulphur fuel, the clause requires each supply of fuel to be kept separate – even if it is of the same grade and specification.

    Diverse team ensures a broad perspective
    The drafting team met in London on Monday 29 October and were joined by representatives from INTERTANKO.

    “We recognise the importance of trying to work together to produce clauses that both organisations can stand behind. We also believe that a diverse team is very important to ensure a broad perspective on all issues,” says Hunter.

    The team is drawn from a wide spectrum of interests and includes owners, charterers, fuel suppliers, P&I Clubs and lawyers. The team is Peter Eckhardt, F Laeisz, Germany (Chairman); Nicola Ioannou, Ocean Fleet, Greece; Dimitrios Los, Vontrados, Greece; Daniel Chu, Navig8, UK; Ann Shazell, Cargill Ocean Transportation, Switzerland; Rob Crees, World Fuel Services, UK; Tiejha Smyth, NEPIA, UK, Paul Dean/Alessio Sbraga, HFW, UK. INTERTANKO was represented by Michele White, general counsel, and Claire Georgeson, Commercial and Markets Manager. Technical guidance is provided by Lars Robert Pedersen, Deputy Secretary General for maritime technology and regulation at BIMCO.


2024 March 28

17:05 Investors upgrade Navios Maritime Partners
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15:41 AD Ports Group announced the opening of Saadiyat Marina & Ferry Terminal and Rabdan Marina
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14:13 APM Terminals Moín handled six million TEU
13:48 ClassNK grants Innovation Endorsements for Products & Solutions to two innovative initiatives by MOL
13:37 Konecranes launches its flagship Konecranes X-series industrial crane
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12:26 Ocean Network Express announces Transpacific service
11:48 Yang Ming announces 2025 Trans-Pacific service network
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10:42 Maersk transported more than 660,000 TEU using clean fuel in 2023
10:23 Documentation delays push industry costs to $3bn
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2024 March 27

18:22 Bureau Veritas awards world’s first prototype certification for SolarDuck’s floating offshore solar solution
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17:38 The Port of Rotterdam calls on the European Commission and Parliament to focus on actively promoting green energy
15:23 SEFE to become sole shareholder of WIGA
14:53 Ocean Installer secures yet another SLM contract with Equinor
14:23 Cadeler signs offshore wind turbine installation contract for the vessel Wind Scylla
13:42 Carnival Cruise Line orders 5th Excel-class cruise ship
13:11 Maersk and MSC overcharging cargo owners for EU ETS, says T&E
12:52 The Port Authority of Valencia launches the ZAL project in the Port of Valencia
12:11 Clarkson Port Services and Peak Group collaborate to deliver Port Agency services across the North Sea
11:42 Wan Hai Lines holds ship naming ceremony for new vessels
11:24 Consolidated shipping lines EBIT loss was $1.44 billion in Q4 2023: Sea-Intelligence
10:49 Seaspan Shipyards receives long-term contracts for the pre-construction work of the the Canadian Coast Guard's first six multi-mission vessels
10:14 Woodside completes sale of 10% scarborough interest

2024 March 26

18:02 COSCO Shipping Lines introduces new Americas service
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17:04 Sanctions complicate Arctic LNG ship sales, Hanwha Ocean says - Bloomberg
16:57 Terntank places an order for 1+1 additional wind/ methanol-ready hybrid tanker
16:28 BW LNG completes acquisition of two TFDE vessels from Stena Bulk
15:50 Hanwha Ocean develops VR-based special vehicle simulator
15:20 TotalEnergies and SINOPEC join forces to produce sustainable jet fuel at a SINOPEC's refinery
14:52 Wärtsilä Lifecycle Agreement to guarantee operational reliability of new wind farm installation vessel
14:23 Hudong-Zhonghua launches two LNG carriers
13:51 Cargo ship hits Baltimore’s Key Bridge
13:12 Final sanctioned tanker with Russian Sokol oil to reach China port - Reuters
12:42 Adani Ports acquires 95% of Odisha's Gopalpur Port from SP Group for $162 million
12:21 IHI and Yara Clean Ammonia agree to jointly assess clean ammonia business collaboration
11:41 Yara Clean Ammonia and Azane granted safety permit to build world's first low emission ammonia bunkering terminal
11:16 Wartsila and Royal Caribbean Group celebrate 15 years of collaboration on digital transformation
10:46 A global carbon tax on shipping is coming, says ABS Chairman and CEO
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2024 March 25

18:07 The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore continues to investigate reports of oil spills off the port of Tuas
17:31 “K” Line, NIPPON HAKUYO and OPT Gate sign an agreement for a new fire detection system for car carriers
17:07 Greek merchant fleet recorded slight decline in January 2024
16:47 Hanwha Ocean Plans to develop green technology and naval ships
16:25 U-Ming Singapore and ITOCHU sign milestone MoU for the joint development of ammonia dual-fuel and de-carbonized vessels
15:34 Svitzer targets methanol-fuelled MAN 175DF-M engine for tug application
15:04 Wallenius Wilhelmsen signs contracts for four 9,300 CEU vessels with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard
14:40 Taiwan International Port to upgrade terminal facility at Kaohsiung
13:59 Сruise ship Carnival Freedom catches fire near Bahamas
12:59 Hanwha Ocean wins 2.4 tln-won order for 8 LNG ships
11:16 Inland Ports meet in Paris to talk about the innovation potential of inland ports
10:50 IMO agrees possible outline for maritime “net-zero framework”
10:24 Hapag-Lloyd to continue to avoid the Red Sea route
09:58 QatarEnergy enters time charter agreements with Nakilat for the operation of 25 LNG vessels

2024 March 24

16:18 Inchgreen Marine Park upgraded as part of £11m investment
15:14 A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Solent Rail Terminal Rail was held at the Port of Southampton
14:08 ESNA and Strategic Marine join forces to offer Surface Effect Ship (“SES”) Crew Transfer Vessels (“CTV”) to the market
13:07 First LNG powered vessel calls at HIP
12:49 Inter-array cable installation completed at Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm
11:32 Equinor ASA posts net income at USD 11.9 billion in 2023
09:25 Edda Wind announces the sale of Edda Passat

2024 March 23

17:19 Maersk opens new warehouse facility in Tijuana, Mexico for cross-border capabilities
14:01 Bollinger Shipyard marks keel laying ceremony for 10th Navajo-class T-ATS