The most awaited if not controversial regulation, the Ballast management came into force last 08 Sept 2017. The regulation stipulates that vessels built on or after the said date shall be fitted with ballast equipment to eliminate the aquatic species. However, not all industry stakeholders are happy because the regulation does not force vessels which the IOPP certificate is valid after the date of 08 Sept 2017. Meaning the vessels which the IOPP will expire say three or five years after the date (08 Sept 2017) will not be fitted with the equipment but rather will comply after the expiration date of the IOPP certificate three or five years after.

Another upcoming headache by the ship owners and managers is the EU MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) regulation entered into force on 1 July 2015, and it requires ship owners and operators to annually monitor, report and verify CO2 emissions for vessels larger than 5,000 gross tonnage (GT) calling at any EU and EFTA (Norway and Iceland) port. Data collection takes place on a per voyage basis and starts 1 January 2018. The reported CO2 emissions, together with additional data, are to be verified by independent certified bodies like DNV GL and sent to a central database managed by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). The aggregated ship emission and efficiency data will be published by the EC by 30 June 2019 and then every consecutive year.

Meantime, the industry is still marred by shipping disaster here and there. The crew needs more vigilance and a robust safety training to be in place to minimize if not eliminate the incidents in future.

Safe seas ahead!

Happy New Year 2018!