Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) has announced a new company policy in accordance with China’s new rules for controlling shipping emissions. The shipping giant committed to use cleaner fuel in all its ships limiting sulphur content to no more than 0.1 percent. It expects a 20-percent reduction in NOx emission at berth by 2020.
Xinhua reports that Anna Larsson, WWL head of sustainability, said the company will cooperate with government agencies, ship builders and other organizations. The company will invest in and support new technology, promote wind and solar power, upgrade existing vessels and collaborate with Exxon Mobil on hybrid ships.
China’s regulation follows similar moves in North America and the European Union which have limited sulphur content to 0.1 percent.
WWL’s new policy strongly supports China’s ongoing efforts to develop a green and sustainable port and shipping industry.
According to NRDC, at last week’s WWL Environmental Seminar in Beijing, Dong Leyi of the Maritime Safety Administration, said the new policy would improve air quality and help upgrade the shipping industry. He mentioned the following steps to consider for the development of China’s Domestic Emission Control Areas (DECA):
- Establishing detailed enforcement guidelines that specify the basis for determining non-compliance and assessing penalties
- Mandating that a given percentage of ships have fuel samples taken to establish an enforcement presence
- Using remote measurement technologies and establishing an enforcement database for onboard inspection and fuel sampling
- Imposing high non-compliance penalties
- Offering training for enforcement officials
- Assuring the quality of bunker fuel supplied in China
- Promoting joint enforcement at the regional level
- Assisting ship owners/operators to comply with the DECA regulation by providing accurate and timely information about said regulation, and offering incentives to encourage early adopters
