A great deal of this week’s reporting by Splash has focused on two massive events set to shape the industry next week – namely, the October 14 launch of hiked US port fees for Chinese-linked tonnage, and the debate surrounding the International Maritime Organization’s Net-Zero Framework.
With US Customs urging ship operators to make sure they have paid up on these new port fees at least three days prior to a vessel’s arrival in the US – or risk no entry – we ought to expect the first payments to the US Treasury over the next 24 hours. US Customs has made clear the burden for determining liability lies squarely with the vessel operator. Vessels failing to show proof of payment may be denied unloading, denied clearance, or blocked from operations until their paperwork is in order.
With days to go before the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) extraordinary session on the Net Zero Framework (NZF), a deep rift has emerged across the shipping industry, with Splash batting back opposing views on the potentially hugely consequential climate measure all week.
With LNG as a fuel likely to be one of the flashpoints among delegates at the IMO next week, Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) made headlines on Wednesday when it announced it had achieved a 98% reduction in methane slip during sea trials using a new methane oxidation catalyst and engine modification system aboard an LNG-fuelled coal carrier panamax.
No question what this week’s most read item on Splash has been, with more than 150,000 of you reading about Qatar’s troubles with GPS. How this is part of a wider problem that insiders have confided could lead to a shake-up of the entire Aids to Navigation provision in the region makes for this week’s Splash Wrap podcast carried below.
