Heavy fine for heavy fuel
21 June 2024
The Svalbard governor has fined an Irish shipping company for operating a vessel with heavy fuel oil (HFO) within the territorial waters of Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole. HFO is a highly viscous marine fuel, notoriously difficult to collect and clean up, particularly in cold environments like the Arctic. In the event of a shipwreck or grounding, the bunker oil poses significant environmental hazards to surrounding marine and coastal ecosystems. The logistical challenges of cleanup in the Arctic, due to its harsh weather and remote location, exacerbate the potential damage. The company has not accepted the fines but provided a financial guarantee, allowing the ship to depart from Svalbard. The case is scheduled for a court hearing in Nord-Troms District Court in early October.
 | Vu Nguyen This marks the first enforcement of the HFO ban, setting a legal precedent, under Section 82a of the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act, aiming to protect Svalbard’s fragile ecosystem. The fines issued in this case highlight the critical need for stringent environmental protections in the Arctic region, where the average temperature has increased nearly four times faster than the rest of the world since 1979. The HFO ban, which came into effect in January 2022, calls for the use of lighter marine diesel instead of HFO to mitigate pollution risks. |
〉https://www.nrk.no/tromsogfinnmark/utanlandsk-reiarlag-far-gigantbot-for-a-ha-segla-med-tungolje-rundt-svalbard-1.16923673">Irish Ship's Svalbard Slip-Up
〉https://www.sysselmesteren.no/nyheter/2024/06/forelegg-pa-1-million-kroner-for-a-ha-seilt-med-tungolje/">NOK 1 million fine issued by Norway
〉 forbud-mot-skip-som-gar-pa-tungolje-1.15790907" style="text-decoration: underline !important;">https://www.nrk.no/tromsogfinnmark/na-skal-miljoverstingene-vekk-fra-svalbard forbud-mot-skip-som-gar-pa-tungolje-1.15790907
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