Sierra Leone to impose IMO 2020 penalties

An international shipping association said August 12 that callers to ports in Sierra Leone could face stiff penalties if found in violation of IMO sulphur limits on fuel, dubbed IMO 2020.

The International Maritime Organisation is mandating ships reduce their sulphur emissions by using low-sulphur fuels. Some operators are opting for alternative fuels such as LNG to address climate concerns from the shipping industry.

From September 1, the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) said ship owners and operators calling to ports in Sierra Leone could face penalties of up to $15,000 if found to be carrying fuel with a sulphur content exceeding 0.5%.

“It is also important to note that Sierra Leone is 18 months behind the global mandate to implement the IMO 2020 statutory instrument,” BIMCO added. “In view of the above, the Sierra Leone Ports Authority will serve as the consulting government agency to implement IMO 2020.”

Shippers are scrambling for newbuilds that comply with IMO 2020. Danish shipping company AP Moller-Maersk in July signed its first-ever agreement with a division of South Korean company Hyundai to procure a dual-engine container vessel that can sail under the power of methanol or very-low sulphur fuel oil.

The vessel, which will fly the Danish flag, will measure 172m long and is planned for the Baltic shipping lane between northern Europe and the Bay of Bothnia, off the western coast of Finland.