Stakeholders in the shipping community in Tema were sensitised at a one-day seminar on Wednesday, 11thSeptember, 2019 on the IMO 2020 Sulphur Cap Regulation which is due for implementation from 1stJanuary, 2020.
The seminar is second in the series of a nationwide stakeholder sensitisation campaign on the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) 2020 Sulphur Cap Regulation organised by the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) in collaboration with the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA).
The seminar series is expected to bring clarity on the Sulphur cap regulation to all stakeholders on the rules, enforcement mechanisms to monitor compliance and the commercial implications for shippers and beneficial cargo owners.
The 2020 Sulphur Cap is a regulation set by the IMO to enforce a new 0.5% global Sulphur cap on fuel content from ships from the present 3.5% limit. This is in response to heightening environmental and health concerns contributed by harmful emissions from ships.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Ms Benonita Bismarck in her address emphasised the distinct mandate of the two state organisations and explained the roles of each of them in the nationwide Sulphur Cap campaign.
“In fact, the African Maritime Transport Charter 2010, to which Ghana has subscribed, sheds ample light on the remits of maritime administrations relating to safety, security and pollution of the marine environment, while that of shippers’ organizations, deals with freight rates, port charges, conditions of shipment and multimodal transportation.”, she said.
According to her, the IMO 2020 Sulphur Cap Regulation presents cross cutting issues of significant interest to both organizations. While the GMA will focus on providing guidelines for the compliance and monitoring of same, the GSA will look at the impact of compliance by shipping lines on their charges (cost of shipment).
For his part, the Director General of the GMA, Mr Thomas Alonsi said he was hopeful partners in the maritime industry including bunker suppliers, ship owners and operators will be convinced of the urgency and necessity to comply with the new Sulphur Cap requirements to address the global environmental concerns to make the world a better place for all.
The Deputy Director, Marine Environment, Safety and Standards of the GMA, Cpt. Abdul-Nadir Inusah took the participants through an elaborate presentation on the 2020 Sulphur Cap regulations
Representatives from the Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG), National Petroleum Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority among others participated in the seminar.
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