Tag: 2020 sulphur cap

Shipping firms to fight EU emissions proposal

Ship-borne measurements show efficiency of EU policies

Low sulphur switch will have billion dollar implications says ICS The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), whose 36 member national shipowners' associations represent all sectors and trades and more than 80% of the world merchant fleet, has called on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to accelerate a critical study into the global availability of low sulphur fuel for ships.ICS has been expressing concern for some time about whether sufficient fuel will be available to allow ships to comply with strict IMO regulations aimed at reducing sulphur emissions and whether, as result of insufficient supply, the costs for those ships which are able to obtain the required fuels might be prohibitively expensive.In an important submission to the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), which meets in October, ICS is once again pressing IMO to start work now on a study that can consider the impact all of the major changes required by the new MARPOL regime, before it is too late for the oil refining industry to respond and invest.There is already a formal mechanism in MARPOL Annex VI for IMO to complete a review, by 2018, of progress made towards meeting the demand for 0.5% sulphur fuel that must be ...

The North American ECA will enter into force on 1 August 2012 and includes areas around the Hawaiian Islands but does not include the US Caribbean Sea ECA, which will enter into force on 1 January 2014. The geographical limits of the North American ECA can be found in Appendix VII of MARPOL Annex VI and in IMO Circular MEPC.1/Circ.723.1

ExxonMobil Marine has launched Mobilgard 560 VS, described as an advanced variable-sulphur cylinder oil formulated to deliver outstanding performance and engine wear protection for low-speed diesel engines.

Sulphur in fuel reminder for ships calling at the west coast of the US

Air pollution from marine fuels with a high sulphur content is estimated to cause 50,000 deaths Tough new limits on the maximum sulphur content of shipping fuels will come into effect in Europe at the end of the decade, after EU governments agreed on draft legislation on Wednesday.Air pollution from marine fuels with a high sulphur content is estimated to cause 50,000 premature deaths a year in Europe, the European Parliament has said."This is excellent news for our health and the environment, especially in ports and coastal areas," EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik said in a statement."Without this directive, emissions from shipping would exceed emissions from all land-based sources by 2020."The European Commission has said switching fuels or fitting exhaust filters to meet the new limits will cost the shipping industry between 2.6 billion and 11 billion euros ($3.3 billion-$14 billion). That sum would be far outweighed by public health savings of up to about 30 billion euros, it said.Under the new law, the maximum sulphur content of fuels will be limited to 0.5 percent for all ships from 2020, from the current 3.5 percent for cargo vessels and 1.5 percent for passenger ships.A tighter limit of 0.1 percent will ...

Council and the European Parliament agreement The Committee of Permanent Representatives endorsed the compromise proposal agreed between the Council and the European Parliament regarding the directive amending directive 1999/32/EC as regards the sulphur content of marine fuels Emissions from shipping due to the combustion of marine fuels with a high sulphur content contribute to air pollution in the form of sulphur dioxide and particulate matter, whichharm human health and contribute to acidification.The directive aims therefore to reduce these emissions considerably and to provide a high level of protection for human health and the environment by rendering the most recent International Maritime Organisation (IMO) rules on marine fuel standards mandatory in the EU, thereby amending Directive1999/32/EC.The text as it stands now was negotiated in informal "trilogue" meetings between the Council - represented by the Danish presidency - the European Parliament and the European Commission.For more information, click here.Source: EUROPA

But more non-compliant results at Rotterdam and Singapore Global testing firm DNVPS says that, during the period 17 March - 16 April 2012, 2.7% of bunker samples exceeded the global ccap of maximum 3.50% m/m, compared to 2.2% in weeks 10-11/2012 and 2.7% in weeks 8-9/2012.The company is now reporting sulphur levels of commercial bunker samples tested at its laboratories on a monthly basis.Its latest update indicates that the sulphur levels are stabilising. DNVPS says that Rotterdam has seen a decrease in the number of samples with sulphur concentration above 3.50% from 9.1% in week 10-11/2012 to 6.8% in the current investigated period. Amsterdam has had an increase from 29.4% to 35.5%, as had Singapore with more than 3.50% m/m sulphur - 7.5% compared to 5.1% in week 10-11/2012. Fujairah has a reduced number of samples exceeding the 3.50% limit, with just 0.5% of tested samples over the limit.DNVPS says 42.9% of samples from Naples were over the 3.5% limit as were 33.3% of the samples representing fuel supplied in Acapulco.Marine fuel sulphur content, 17 March - 16 April 2012Ports and percentages of samples exceeding the 3.5% limit Worldwide 2.7% Singapore 7.5% Rotterdam 6.8% Antwerp 0.9% Amsterdam 35.5% Busan 10.6% ...

Fuel with a sulphur content of 0.5 percent or less while berthed in Hong Kong Shipping lines voluntarily using costly low-sulphur fuel to reduce air pollution in Hong Kong will finally get government help to offset their higher fuel bills. But soaring fuel costs and a lack of government action to force all shipping firms to use low-sulphur fuel in Hong Kong may see some operators switch back to oil with a higher sulphur content, the South China Morning Post reported.Chan Ming-yau, general manager of the Marine Department's ship safety branch, said shipping lines that were signatories to the Fair Winds Charter would start to receive a rebate on port charges in June or July. The Marine Department and Environmental Protection Department are finalising details of how the scheme will be implemented, but these issues should be resolved quickly and the first payments made in two or three months, he said.Under the scheme, which will cost the government US$32.5 million over three years, shipping companies using low-sulphur fuel will be entitled to a 50 percent cut in port and light dues charged on ocean-going vessels while berthed in Hong Kong.The scheme was included in the financial secretary's budget proposals approved ...