Why Arctic ministers must go further than the IMO’s weak heavy fuel oil ban

Arctic Today: Why Arctic ministers must go further than the IMO’s weak heavy fuel oil ban

The Arctic Council Ministerial provides a unique opportunity for foreign ministers to demonstrate global leadership by committing to rapid, Arctic-wide elimination of heavy fuel oil, and to immediate reduction in black carbon emissions from shipping. These commitments can be enshrined in the 2021 Reykjavik Declaration, to be issued at the conclusion of the meeting.

Breaking the Ice: Heavy Fuel Oil

Arctic 360 Podcast: Breaking the Ice – heavy fuel oil

Heavy fuel oil is thick and has a tar-like consistency. That makes spills involving it a major environmental concern. HFO is commonly used to fuel shipping vessels, including in Arctic waters. However, the International Maritime Organization has recently approved a ban on HFO in the Arctic to take effect after July 1, 2024.

Reuters Factbox: What happens when there is an oil spill at sea?

Reuters Factbox: What happens when there is an oil spill at sea?

“Heavier oils and crude generally don’t evaporate much and instead of dispersing they form emulsions with the sea water, are much more persistent, spread further and will sink and become mixed with sediments or on coastlines will smother the beaches, rocks,” said Sian Prior, lead advisor with the Clean Arctic Alliance coalition, which has sought to ban the use of heavy fuel oil by ships in the sensitive Arctic region.

“Bacteria will work to degrade these oils too but it takes longer. These types of oil spills lead to much greater volumes of oiled material being retrieved as they coat anything.”

Protecting the Arctic from the risks of heavy fuel oil

Marine & Ocean: Protecting the Arctic from the risks of heavy fuel oil

Article by the Clean Arctic Alliance’s Dr Sian Prior in Marine & Oceans, issue 270: “The Arctic is changing, with climate heating having a greater impact on the region than anywhere else on Earth. Not only does this create greater climatic uncertainty for those living both inside and beyond the Arctic, the loss of sea ice opens up the Arctic to new threats, such as oil spills from expanded shipping operations.”