According to data published by the IMO, about one-tenth of the world fleet’s fuel consumption can be attributed to poor hull and propeller performance. This costs owners an estimated USD 30 billion in additional fuel costs per year and contributes to 0.3% of all man-made carbon emissions. Released in 2017, the ISO 19030 standard defines a set of performance indicators for hull and propeller maintenance, repair and retrofit activities to improve operational performance.
At the beginning of January 2021, RightShip and INTERCARGO launched DryBMS which is a new quality standard for the dry bulk sector. The standard will be governed by a new NGO to be established later this year and will support the improvement of safety in the dry bulk segment.
Bunker quality disputes are not uncommon. The parties often agree to jointly test a sample to determine if the fuel supplied was on-specification or not, and the result is binding on the parties. Even in the absence of an agreement, bunker samples will be relevant evidence that may help to resolve a dispute one way or another. The question then arises: which samples will be used for testing – the one taken on the bunker barge or the one from the receiving ship’s manifold?
The Panama Canal revealed plans to decarbonize its operations, with the aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. The plan includes electric vehicles and use of alternative fuels, among others.