regulations

EPA finalizes VIDA incidental discharge standards

In a regulatory action that has been long in the works, the U.S. Envionmental Protection Administration has released the pre-publication version of its final rule to establish Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance as directed by the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act, or VIDA, which was enacted in 2018.

The national standards of performance cover incidental discharges from non-recreational, non-Armed Forces vessels 79 feet in length and above, as well as ballast water only...

https://www.marinelog.com/inland-coastal/epa-finalizes-vida-incidental-discharge-standards/

Maersk Line Limited reaches settlement in whistleblower case

As part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor in a whistleblower case, Maersk’s U.S.-flag subsidiary, Maersk Line Limited is to change its safety reporting policies and compensate a seaman that it terminated after he reported safety concerns to the U.S. Coast Guard without first notifying the company.

The Department of Labor says that these actions follow a three-day hearing in June 2024 in which Maersk challenged the findings of a whistleblower investigation by the department’s...

https://www.marinelog.com/legal/maersk-line-limited-reaches-settlement-in-whistleblower-case/

Liberian Registry hires Giorgio De Sciora for key role

The Liberian Registry has named Captain Giorgio De Sciora its new vice president of regulations and standards, maritime operations.

In this position, De Sciora will direct and oversee the application of new and amended international maritime regulations and all related programs implemented by the administration.

With over 30 years of industry experience and expertise, including at Carnival Cruise Line, he will also be instrumental in leading the expansion of Liberia’s Passenger Ship program by...

https://www.marinelog.com/passenger/cruiseships/liberian-registry-hires-giorgio-de-sciora-for-key-role/

Ship owners face hefty emission bills under EU-ETS, warns Oceanly

Oceanly chart

The integration of the shipping sector into the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) brings substantial costs and compliance challenges for ship owners and Rapallo, Italy, headquartered fleet performance solutions specialist Oceanly warns that, without proper management, owners could face considerable financial liabilities.

As from January 1, 2024, ship owners are required to purchase emission allowances for the CO2 their vessels emit. With the current EU Allowance (EUA) price hoverin...

https://www.marinelog.com/legal/compliance/ship-owners-face-hefty-emission-bills-under-eu-ets-warns-oceanly/

Industry makes progress in fight against dangerous CARB DPF requirement

In a major milestone for mariner safety in California, the California Senate Transportation Committee has voted 14-0 in favor of a measure that would prevent the California Air Resources Board (CARB) from enforcing a potentially deadly requirement in its harbor craft regulations. That requirement would force operators to install unproven and uncertified diesel particulate filters (DPF), widely seen as a fire hazard. The U.S. Coast Guard has already said that it won’t enforce the CARB DPF...

https://www.marinelog.com/inland-coastal/industry-makes-progress-in-fight-against-dangerous-carb-dpf-requirement/

FMC launches probe of Canadian ballast water regs

Pending Canadian ballast water management regulations have been slammed as “the epitome of an unfair business practice,” by the U.S. based Lake Carriers Association (LCA), which filed a petition asking the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to investigate the issue back in March 2020.

The FMC responded and today launched an investigation to determine if pending Canadian regulations governing ballast water management systems of ships in the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes trade have a disparate effect on...

https://www.marinelog.com/legal/regulations/fmc-launches-probe-of-canadian-ballast-water-regs/

EC’s Union Database plan could limit biofuel availability to ships

The European Union is setting up a Union Database (UDB) of biofuels. The database aims to ensure the traceability of liquid and gaseous biofuels that are eligible for being counted towards the share of renewable energy in the transportation sector in any EU member state. One aspect of the European Commission’s plans for the UDB is causing “deep concerns” to both the Methanol Institute (MI) and SEA-LNG, key representatives of the methanol and liquefied natural gas (LNG) industries respectively,,

T...

https://www.marinelog.com/legal/environment/ecs-union-database-plan-could-limit-biofuel-availability-to-ships/

Denmark will ban scrubber water discharges

The Danish Ministry of the Environment said today that, from July 1, 2025, the discharge of exhaust gas scrubber water from ships will be prohibited in waters up to 22 kilometers (about 12 nautical miles) off the Danish coast. The ban has widespread Danish parliamentary support from across the political spectrum and will be implemented in an amendment to current legislation set to be enacted in the coming parliamentary year.

The ministry notes that currently ships can use open loop scrubbers to...

https://www.marinelog.com/legal/environment/denmark-will-ban-scrubber-water-discharges/

Support grows for USTR to slap U.S. port fees on Chinese-built ships

U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) are seeing growing support for their push for the Biden Administration to initiate an investigation into the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) unfair trade practices in commercial shipbuilding. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) have now joined Baldwin and Casey’s push in support of the United Steelworkers (USW) petition under Section 301 of the Trade Act of...

https://www.marinelog.com/legal/legislation/support-grows-for-ustr-to-slap-u-s-port-fees-on-chinese-built-ships/

MEPC 81: A global carbon tax on shipping is getting closer

As IMO’s MEPC 81 was going on in London last week, ABS Chairman and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki was telling a session of the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston that a universal, global carbon tax on shipping is coming, as alternative blue fuels made with carbon capture emerge as a critical step in the energy transition at sea.

“We need to recognize that there is an intermediate step in the energy transition,” he said. “Last year the conversations were focused on going from oil to a green...

https://www.marinelog.com/legal/environment/mepc-81-a-global-carbon-tax-on-shipping-is-getting-closer/

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