IMO 2020 violators face a number of legal risks

Shipowners caught exceeding the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 sulphur limits, which start 1 January, could face a $25,000 fine for each violation, said Briton Sparkman, an attorney with Chalos & Co who specializes in maritime law.

The fine is listed in Annex VI of Marpol, an international treaty designed to reduce marine pollution, Sparkman said at the Argus Marpol Strategy Summit in Houston, Texas, today.

Shipowners that falsify data to avoid IMO 2020 rules also run the risk of violating the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the anti-financial fraud statute that became law in 2002, Sparkman said. Obstruction of justice statutes could also apply, he said.

The best way for shipping companies to avoid these legal troubles is to have strong internal policies and procedures and to properly train vessel personnel on the forthcoming regulation, he said.