Emirati law firm Fichte & Co. Legal recently held an informative seminar at the JW Marriott Marquis, Business Bay in Dubai. The session tackled the IMO (International Maritime Organization) 2020 mandate and its impact on the world’s leading ports, namely Singapore and the UAE’s Fujairah Port. With the rapidly approaching regulatory change forcing shipowners to comply one way or the other, the global marine fleet is set to experience great change in the coming six months.
Fichte & Co’s event featured knowledgeable maritime experts and government officials providing industry insights on how Singapore and the UAE can continue to thrive through this impending change. Jasmine Fichte, legal founder and managing partner of Fichte & Co, said: “The UAE has already established itself as a nation that prioritizes reinforcing a greener footprint and a more sustainable future. The implementation of the UAE Vision 2021, which entails a full-fledged sustainable structure for the country’s future, accordingly aligns with the IMO2020 sulfur cap.”
He added: “UAE stakeholders dealing with HSFO (high sulfur fuel oil) should seek out a more sustainable plan to secure their position in the industry before the mandate is initiated and the seminar will enable forward-thinking to proactively plan for this. Alternative methods of vessel power generation and more innovation in wider industrial uses of fuel oil are required for the UAE as part of a secured plan for maritime to continue thriving both regionally and globally.”