Ship prices may rise slowly amid today's low inflation, but pending environmental regulations place a cloud of mystery over any forecasts, says Greek shipowner Peter Livanos.

Come 1 January 2020, IMO regulations will limit ship exhaust sulphur content to 0.5%.

The International Maritime Organization will also place further limits on vessels' greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 and 2050.

"The big question right now is what are the new regulations around shipping, particularly with environmental regulations, what they're going to do for the requirement of new ships being built," Livanos, owner of Greek shipping company Ceres Hellenic, said today during a talk at Marine Money's annual New York conference.