Closing the Loopholes in the IMO’s HFO Ban: A Call for Comprehensive Action to Protect the Arctic

On 1 July 2024, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will implement a ban on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil (HFO) as fuel in Arctic waters. This regulatory step, often referred to as the HFO ban, is a significant milestone in efforts to protect the fragile Arctic ecosystem from the devastating effects of HFO spills. However, the current scope of the ban is limited, covering only 16% of the HFO burned and 30% of the HFO carried as fuel in the Arctic. This excludes cargoes of HFO, as highlighted by Comer et al. (2020), leaving critical gaps in the protection of these sensitive marine environments.

The limitations of the ban underline the urgent need to close existing loopholes and advocate for a full ban on HFO in the Arctic. While this is a crucial step, immediate interim measures must also be taken to mitigate the risks. Implementing area-based conservation measures and spatial planning, including route planning, is essential to keep ships away from the most sensitive areas. These steps are vital to ensure that the Arctic ecosystem is safeguarded from potential HFO spills and their harmful impacts.

Fortunately, there is sufficient data and the necessary tools available to start implementing these protective measures now. Our most recent working paper, “Mapping the Threats of Carrying and Using Heavy Fuel Oil in Arctic Marine and Coastal Areas,” highlights regions of highest conservation concern caused specifically by HFO-fuelled shipping in the Arctic. It calls for prompt action to address these threats, particularly as shipping activities in the region continue to increase.

References:

Comer, Bryan, Liudmila Osipova, Elise Georgeff and Xiaoli Mao. 2020. The International
Maritime Organization’s Proposed Arctic Heavy Fuel Oil Ban: Likely Impacts and
Opportunities for Improvements. ICCT White Paper

Tracy, Elena, Andrew Dumbrille and Boris Solovyev. 2024. Mapping the Threats of Carrying and Using Heavy Fuel Oil in Arctic Marine and Coastal Areas. WWF Global Arctic Programme Working Paper