The Ghana Shippers Authority, in collaboration, with the Ghana Maritime Authority is on an awareness campaign to sensitize players in the shipping industry especially the trading community on the IMO’s sulphur cap policy.
The Shippers’ Authority also intends to advocate for a fair playing field, where importers do not suffer the total cost of the policy’s implementation.
According to the Chief Director of the Ministry of Transport, Mabel Sagoe, an inter-ministerial committee comprising relevant agencies has been constituted to ensure that Ghana is ready for implementation of the IMO Sulphur Cap policy by January 1, 2020.
The Chief Executive of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Benonita Bismarck endorsed the global drive for green shipping, and urged the various stakeholders affected by the policy to prepare adequately for the impact the policy may have on businesses, in order to not incur losses.
“It is our hope as stakeholders affected by this IMO regulations are adequately prepared for the ramifications so that we can collectively manage the unintended consequences on the industry.”
She assured her outfit’s committed to continue making accessible all needed updates on the shipping sector to shippers in order to make life easier for them.
Daniel Appianin, Deputy Director General, Technical and Operations of the Ghana Maritime Authority, said his outfit has therefore taken up the responsibility to bring this new regulation to the attention of ship owners, ship operators, refinery industries and all relevant stakeholders in order to achieve compliance.
“Ensuring the consistent and effective implementation of the 2020 0.50% mm sulphur limit is a high priority and the implementation is the remit of the Ghana Maritime Authority,” he stated.
The IMO Global Sulphur Cap, is already being complied with by some ships across the globe, and worldwide, ship owners and shipping lines are strategizing for the enforcement of the law on January 1 2020.