Nations agree to slash sulfur ship emission by 2015

Reuters 10 Oct 08;

There are only two SECA currently -- the North Sea and the Baltic -- but it is expected that the European Union, the U.S., Japan, Singapore and Australia will be declared SECA by 2015

LONDON (Reuters) - Countries have agreed new sulfur limits for ship fuels that will slash air pollutants and clean up the world's oceans, but raise costs for the oil and ship industry, a maritime industry source said on Friday.

Governments agreed the new measures, which will sharply cut harmful sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from ships through a staggered timetable to 2015, at a U.N. International Maritime Organization (IMO) meeting in London.

"It's a very significant agreement because it means that there will be substantial reductions in the emissions of harmful sulfur by ships," Simon Bennett, secretary at the International Chamber of Shipping, told Reuters.

"There is going to be much greater demands in the use of distillate fuels, particularly in the years running up to 2015," he said.

Through the IMO, countries agreed to impose sulfur limits in so-called special Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECA) of 0.1 percent by 2015 from the current 1.5 percent.

By 2010 sulfur limits will be limited to just 1 percent in the protected areas.

There are only two SECA currently -- the North Sea and the Baltic -- but it is expected that the European Union, the U.S., Japan, Singapore and Australia will be declared SECA by that time.

Bennett said that the ambitious targets, first formally aired in April, will likely cost the oil and ship industry billions of dollars to implement.

They could also raise the price of road transport fuels as the industry, which numbers 50,000 ocean going ships, switches from heavy fuel oil to cleaner burning distillates.

"The big question will be whether or not the oil refining industry will be able to deliver this new demand for distillate that is going to be created for shipping," Bennett said.

(Reporting by Stefano Ambrogi; editing by James Jukwey)

IMO environment meeting adopts revised regulations on ship emissions
IMO website 10 Oct 08;

Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) - 58th session: 6 to 10 October 2008

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) unanimously adopted amendments to the MARPOL Annex VI regulations to reduce harmful emissions from ships even further, when it met for its 58th session at IMO's London headquarters.

The main changes to MARPOL Annex VI will see a progressive reduction in sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions from ships, with the global sulphur cap reduced initially to 3.50% (from the current 4.50%), effective from 1 January 2012; then progressively to 0.50 %, effective from 1 January 2020, subject to a feasibility review to be completed no later than 2018.

The limits applicable in Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECAs) will be reduced to 1.00%, beginning on 1 July 2010 (from the current 1.50 %); being further reduced to 0.10 %, effective from 1 January 2015.

Progressive reductions in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from marine engines were also agreed, with the most stringent controls on so-called "Tier III" engines, i.e. those installed on ships constructed on or after 1 January 2016, operating in Emission Control Areas.

The revised Annex VI will allow for an Emission Control Area to be designated for SOx and particulate matter, or NOx, or all three types of emissions from ships, subject to a proposal from a Party or Parties to the Annex, which would be considered for adoption by the Organization, if supported by a demonstrated need to prevent, reduce and control one or all three of those emissions from ships.

The revised Annex VI will enter into force on 1 July 2010, under the tacit acceptance amendment procedure

MARPOL Annex VI Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships entered into force in May 2005 and has, so far, been ratified by 53 countries, representing approximately 81.88 % of the gross tonnage of the world's merchant shipping fleet.

The MEPC also adopted amendments to the associated NOx Technical Code, to give a revised NOx Technical Code 2008. The amended Code includes a new chapter based on the agreed approach for NOx regulation of existing (pre-2000) engines established in MARPOL Annex VI, and provisions for direct measurement and monitoring methods, a certification procedure for existing engines, and test cycles to be applied to Tier II and Tier III engines.

Revised Guidelines for Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems and Guidelines for the development of a VOC management plan were also adopted.

The revised measures are expected to have a significant beneficial impact on the atmospheric environment and on human health, particularly that of people living in port cities and coastal communities.