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MEPC 80: Dark STS oil transfers discussed at IMO – IBIA

Wednesday, 19 July 2023 | 12:00

An increase in cases of ship-to-ship (STS) transfers of fuel using “dark operations” to hide the vessels’ location was discussed at the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee 80th session (MEPC 80).
Several shipping organisations at the MEPC 80 pointed out that “while there should be no furtive STS operations, distinctions need to be made between legitimate and illicit STS operations,” according to the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA), which took part in MEPC 80.

Shipping bodies noted that there can be legitimate reasons for AIS transponders not working properly or being turned off for security reasons as “AIS signals have been used by pirates to target tankers.” Meanwhile, concerns have also been raised about the risks of oil spills and the use of such “dark operations” to circumvent sanctions and high insurance costs, IBIA said.

This practice also enables responsible parties to evade liabilities in case of an oil spill incident, IBIA noted.

Russia has widely been accused of using a “dark fleet” of vessels to carry out STS transfers of its crude oil and bypass Western sanctions on its exports in the aftermath of the Ukraine invasion.

The IMO’s Legal Committee discussed this subject in March when it was revealed that a fleet of 300-600 tankers operated as a “dark fleet”. The fleet comprised mostly older and poorly maintained vessels with unclear ownership details.

After discussions at MEPC 80 earlier this month, the member states agreed to forward a draft resolution for the prevention of “dark shipping” to the 33rd session of the IMO Assembly. The Assembly, which comprises all IMO member states, is scheduled to meet this November. The resolution is expected to be finalised and adopted then, IBIA said.
Source: Engine, By Shilpa Sharma, https://engine.online/news/regulations/mepc-80-dark-sts-oil-transfers-discussed-at-imo-ibia-4dd1

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