Tag: Emission Control Areas (ECA)

With January 2015 and the enforcement of Emission Control Areas (ECAs) rapidly approaching, Alfa Laval has launched a new generation of the scrubber

ABS has been chosen to class two LNG-fueled containerships to be built in China for German owner GNS Shipping/Nordic Hamburg

Wärtsilä announces the launch of its SK 5054 MkII ship design, a further development and upgraded version of the successful SK 5054 design

Shell Marine Products introduced Shell Alexia S3, its solution for large vessels with two-stroke engines entering into waters where the revised ECA regulations

USA- CARB- Ocean Going Vessels Fuel Rule Subset Review Process

West of England P&I Club article The West of England P&I Club issued an article regarding Ocean Going Vessels Fuel Rule Sunset Review Process in United States.On 1 January 2015 a new MARPOL Annex VI requirement will enter into force reducing the maximum sulphur content for fuel oil from 1.0% to 0.1% within sulphur Emission Control Areas (ECAs). In the United States, this will mean fulfilling the provisions of the North American ECA.Within Californian waters, vessels also need to comply with the California Air Resources Boards (CARB) Ocean Going Vessels (OGV) fuel rule which requires vessels to use distillate fuel oil (MDO or MGO) with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.1%. There are two principal differences between the requirements of the North American ECA and the CARB OGV fuel rule:MARPOL does not specify the type of fuel to be used other than stipulating that the sulphur content must not exceed 0.1%. The CARB OGV fuel rule requires the use of distillate fuel oil, not residual fuel oil.MAPROL permits the use of alternative emission control technologies (eg exhaust gas scrubbers) to achieve the necessary reduction in sulphur emissions. The CARB OGV fuel rule legislation does not recognise the use of such ...

UK P&I Club issues Knowledge bulletin The UK P&I Club issued a Knowledge bulletin regarding the stepped up enforcement in the North American ECA.In a new enforcement initiative, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in cooperation with the United States Coast Guard (USCG), has boarded vessels to collect bunker samples to determine whether the vessels fuel sources meet the 1.0% fuel oil sulphur limit applicable within the North American Emissions Control Area (ECA).The EPA also disclosed that it has been experimenting with vessel flyovers to assess vessel smokestack plumes for the same purpose.The EPAs unprecedented action, coming on the heels of its issuance of administrative subpoenas to several large companies operating ships within the North American ECA, announced stepped up efforts to enforce low sulphur fuel requirements within the North American ECA. Until this recent initiative, EPA and USCG officials seemed content to simply monitor compliance efforts by reviewing ECA-related records and documents such as Bunker Delivery Receipts during Port State Control inspections. These joint EPA/USCG initiatives to enforce fuel standards should serve as a warning to Clubs Members operating within the North American ECA. The commercial and legal consequences of a failure to comply with the ECAs fuel ...

California Air Resources Board issues Marine Notice 2014-1 CaliforniaAir Resources Board issued a Marine Notice regarding the compliance with the California Ocean-Going Vessel Fuel Regulation1 during the Air Resources Board Sunset Review Process as follows:The California Ocean-Going Vessel (OGV) Fuel Regulation includes a sunset provision2 which states that the requirements of the California OGV Fuel Regulation will cease to apply if the United States adopts and enforces requirements that will achieve equivalent emissions reductions to the California OGV Fuel Regulation within Regulated California Waters. The provision further states that the California OGV Fuel Regulation requirements will remain in effect until the Executive Officer issues written findings that the federal requirements will achieve equivalent emission reductions and are being enforced within Regulated California Waters.In accordance with this provision, Air Resources Board (ARB) staff is conducting a sunset review as allowed by the California OGV Fuel Regulation. During ARB staffs sunset review, which is expected to extend beyond January 2015, the California OGV Fuel Regulation will remain in effect and will continue to be enforced. Vessel operators must ensure that they meet both the California OGV Fuel Regulation and the North American Emission Control Area (ECA Regulation) 3 requirements. We do not ...

Marine emissions in Hong Kong remain serious

Protecting environment and ensuring a level playing field for ship operators From 1 January 2015 new legal requirements will come into force in the Emission Control Areas (ECA) in North Europe (Including the Baltic Sea, North Sea and English Channel) and North America (200 nautical miles from American and Canadian shore). This legal requirement will lower the maximum allowed content of sulphur in fuel burned in the ECA's to 0.1% sulphur from todays 1.0%.The 2015 requirements will have significant positive effects on the environmental and health in the regions and Maersk Line fully supports such a development, subject to strict regulatory enforcement to safeguard the environmental benefits and ensure a level playing field for ship operators.ImplicationsThis requirement will have the following effects and implications for society, Maersk Line, and our customers:Environment and Health: Sulphur emissions (SOx) will be reduced by 90% which will have significant positive effects on the environment and on health in general. SOx emissions are toxic and cause respiratory implications as well as acid rain.Maersk Line: Fuel with a sulphur content of 0.1% is significantly more expensive than fuel with 1.0% sulphur content required in ECA areas today. By 2015, Maersk Line expects to purchase 650,000 tonnes ...