IMO sulphur emission measures to be revised

More and more industry organisations are calling for action to deal with the negative implications of the IMO sulphur requirements covered by Emission Control Areas (ECAs - currently Baltic, North Sea and English Channel ports).

The requirement to shift to 0.1% sulphur content level in the ECAs as from 2015 was introduced without a proper impact assessment. Several studies have meanwhile pointed at serious consequences for the regions concerned, in particular with regard to a major modal backshift on a large set of origin-destination relations, which will lead to traffic losses for the short sea option in favour of trucking and consequently increase external costs. There is also an imminent risk for less investment in industries, which would further reduce the need for ports in the area.
A recent study prepared for the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) by the Institute of Transport and Maritime Management (ITMMA) and the University of Leuven confirms these findings.

On the basis of this study, European shipowners decided to call for an alternative scenario for the ECAs whereby first of all a feasibility study should be made by 2013, which includes both the price and availability perspective. The proposed 0.1% limit in 2015 should then be increased to 0.5% and by 2018 an overall impact assessment of ECA should be included in the global review.

ESPO fully recognises the problems that ports in the ECAs are facing and is currently finalising its own position. “Whatever solution is proposed, it are Member States that now need to be convinced”, said ESPO Secretary-General Patrick Verhoeven, “This will be a tough job in itself, but the mounting evidence on the negative implications of the 0.1% measure can no longer be ignored.”

(Source: Transport Weekly)