Shipping lawyer George Chalos has highlighted what he expects to be heavy-handed US enforcement of the IMO's looming emissions regulations.

Speaking at TradeWinds' IMO 2020 Disruption Forum Thursday afternoon in New York, the maritime attorney told the assembled that the US Coast Guard uses "a hammer where a flyswatter will do".

He said the agency has already collected half a billion dollars in fines against foreign-flag shipowners while enforcing environmental rules, leading to his fear that it will hunt for more fines with the coming sulphur limits.