The 1.5 million litres of cancelled fuel orders on 02 July alone underscore a new trend where vessels are now travelling to locations like Shetland and the Faroe Islands for bunkering, or refuelling from tank ships at sea. Fox highlighted that Bunker Oil is now considering a scenario where only one facility in Tromsø and one in Ålesund might remain viable, with Finnmark being particularly vulnerable without the deep-sea fishing fleet.
Broader Consequences and Preparedness Concerns
Kåre Heggebø, leader of Fiskarlaget, echoed these fears, warning of a “number of unintended consequences” and stating that the impact on bunkering facilities and, in the worst case, national coastal preparedness, could be “dramatic.” He pointed out that fishing, as the backbone of much of Norway’s coastal value creation, means other businesses will also be affected by the reduced activity of the deep-sea fishing fleet. As vessels seek foreign ports for fuel, it is likely other services will also be procured abroad, diminishing value creation in Norway through fish landings, repairs at shipyards, and provision supplies.
A significant concern highlighted by Fox is the impact on fuel preparedness, especially in the north. “In the north there are long distances and a vulnerable distribution network. Closure of our facilities will have greater ripple effects in the north,” she said. Bunker Oil’s tank facilities supply fuel to the defence sector and serve as crucial hubs for distributing fuel to smaller coastal communities, smaller fishing vessels, and local industries. Fox expressed particular concern for local communities and fuel preparedness in Finnmark, affecting both defence supplies and food security from the fishing fleet.
Climate Paradox and International Discrepancy
The CO2 tax was initially introduced as a climate measure to encourage the fishing fleet to transition to more climate-friendly fuels. However, industry organisations, including Fiskebåt and Fiskarlaget, argue that such alternatives are currently far from realistic for a large portion of the fleet. This unilateral Norwegian measure, they contend, undermines their competitiveness against foreign fleets.
This point is particularly underscored by the contrasting approach in Denmark. Danish authorities compensate both domestic and foreign (including Norwegian) fishers for 100 percent of the CO2 tax when bunkering in Denmark, creating a significant competitive disadvantage for Norwegian vessels in their home waters.
“We hope that the authorities see the consequences of this decision and immediately reverse this regulation change before irreparable damage occurs,” Fox urged, a sentiment strongly shared by Fiskarlaget, who had previously warned against the changes.