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The MARPOL II
cargo re-classification of chemicals, vegetable oils and fats will bring
about changes in the trading possibilities for the Malaysian chemical and
products tanker fleets in the trade.
The move to re-classify carriage of chemicals, oils and fats that are
presently unregulated will have an effect on the demand and supply for
products tanker market as well as on the chemical tanker market.
"This is because today many of the "easy" chemicals and all vegetable oils &
fats can be carried by product tankers as well as chemical tankers, whereas
the proposed reclassification means that the majority of these cargoes may
only be carried on specific IMO tanker types, said the John Fawcett Ellis,
the Asia Pacific representative of Intertanko.
Ellis who was in Kuala Lumpur recently said although the revisions to MARPOL
Annex II, have been under review and discussion at the IMO and elsewhere for
over 10 years it had made major progress when Intertanko carried out a study
at the request of International Maritime Organization (IMO), and this was
submitted to the 8th Session of the Bulk Liquids and Gases Subcommittee (BLG
8).
The study involving over 1,100 vessels examines possible consequences on the
availability of IMO Type 2 and Type 3 chemical tanker tonnage in 2007 based
on the product reclassification proposals within MARPOL Annex II.
The report by Intertanko to focus on the "Big Volume Movers", the main
cargoes that make up over 80 per cent of the total of more that 130m tonnes
of chemicals, vegetable oils, fats and molasses shipped annually.
Some of these cargoes will be re-classified "up" and some "down" with regard
to pollution and ship type requirements and some (pollution category Z) will
still be able to be carried on products tankers.
The report was submitted to the Marine and Environment Protection
Committee's (MEPC 51) meeting at the IMO on 29 March - 2 April 2004.
The MEPC which met early this month in London gave final approval to the
revised texts of MARPOL Annex II with a view to adoption at MEPC 52 in
October 2004 with an expected entry into force date of 1 January 2007.
The MEPC 51 committee approved a resolution on guidelines for the transport
of vegetable oils in deep tanks or in independent tanks specially designed
for the carriage of such vegetable oils on board dry cargo ships. The
guidelines have been developed to allow general dry cargo ships that are
currently certified to carry vegetable oil in bulk to continue to carry
these vegetable oils on specific trades.
Intertanko study also highlights that today the products that are proposed
to be reclassified are being carried by specialised tankers with LNS
certificates, IMO type 2/3 tankers and oil tankers.
The proposed reclassification will mean that the chemical tanker fleet
(Type1,2,3) will collectively have exclusive access to 75 million tonnes of
cargo in 2007 annually from 2007.
In the report submitted to the IMO, Intertanko highlights that the Annex I
tanker fleet will lose access to about 65 million tonnes of Annex II cargo
from 2007. In addition to that there will be a nominal surplus of type 2 and
type 3 tonnage from 2007.
Ellis said Intertanko has 242 members, whose combined fleet comprises more
than 2,160 tankers totalling 160 million dwt as of middle of 2003. In
Malaysia we have four members namely Malaysia International Shipping
Corporation Bhd, Aurora Tankers, Sutrajaya Shipping and Barber
Shipmanagement.
"We hope many more Malaysian companies will be joining the body as
Intertanko is a forum where the industry meets, policies are discussed and
statements are created. It is a valuable source of first-hand information,
opinions and guidance. Intertanko has a vision for a professional, efficient
and respected industry that is dedicated to achieving safe transport,
cleaner seas and free competition," said Ellis. |
