The proposed International Maritime Organization ban on heavy fuel oil (HFO) in the Arctic is not worth the paper it is written on, claim environmentalists, who are pressing for the removal of waivers and exemptions as the ban is discussed this week at the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting.

“The IMO and its member states must make serious amendments to the draft ban on the use and carriage of polluting heavy fuel oil in the Arctic," said Sian Prior, lead Advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance.