Sea change for shipping sector
New rules are imminent and will have a big impact on the global fuel oil sector
Only two years remain before world shipping must conform to the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Marpol "Annex VI" regulation to reduce sulphur content in marine fuels. Market participants agree that this is a major and potentially disruptive change, but say fuel suppliers and shippers seem to be approaching the deadline with equanimity. "Fundamentally, people are not prepared, in the sense that they're not doing anything differently" ahead of the deadline, says Andrew Laven, regional manager for Middle East and Africa at the Bomin Group, a bunkering company with operations worldwide. He points out that many in the industry believe evaluations that there will be enough 0.5% sulphu

Also in this section
6 December 2023
The threat of a big disruption to energy trade in the Middle East appears to be receding, but the fog of war is casting doubt on projects in the region
5 December 2023
Scepticism, confusion and disdain over OPEC+’s extended and deeper supply cuts should give way to an appreciation of the new multi-speed producer alliance
5 December 2023
Low debts levels and the advantages of larger companies among the reasons for the rise in activity