Equipment makers' body supports EU sulphur cap

The Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems Association (EGCSA) has called for factions within the shipping industry to refrain from what it describes as "counter-productive calls for the postponement of EU Directive 2005/33/EC".

This EU ruling will see the mandatory use of bunker fuel that contains no more than 0.1% of sulphur by January 2010 in European Union ports, in advance of the similar limitation to be imposed by IMO. The EGCSA, the voice for marine exhaust gas cleaning technologies, believes that recent excuses being made by tanker association Intertanko relating to the lack of time and choice of solutions required to adapt to the change, is driven by individual and political agenda that fails to serve the best interests of the industry, as well as the environment.

Don Gregory, Director, EGCSA, stated: “Recent comments in the press promoting the postponement of EU Directive 2005/33/EC would leave the shipping industry in danger of failing to jump one of the first and smallest hurdles to reducing shipping's considerable SOx output - tarnishing shipping’s environmental reputation. The issue of sulphur in marine fuel and alternative options for its reduction were raised as far back as 2002. All industry stakeholders have consistently and conclusively agreed that a one-solution approach that solely promotes the use of distillates is not workable, which led to the inclusion in the EU directive for the option of utilising available emissions reduction technologies, such as scrubbing. The shipping industry has had five years to prepare for the January 2010 deadline with two clear options; low sulphur fuel or exhaust gas cleaning technology. To say that the legislation should be postponed by a further five years, particularly by those parties that originally proposed an ‘all distillate’ approach to reducing Sulphur Oxide (SOx) emissions is lamentable.”

The EGCSA also challenges the recent claim that many ships will need to re-design their boiler systems to make them suitable for a switch from HFO (heavy fuel oil) to MGO (marine gas oil).

“A low sulphur fuel oil which has different combustion heat release characteristics should not prove to be a problem for internal combustion engines if appropriate procedures are applied,” continued Gregory. “While steam generators and boilers require a more detailed examination of the technical challenges in conjunction with the development of new operating procedures and equipment settings, none of this breaks new technological barriers that cannot be easily overcome.”

The EGCSA says that it firmly believes that environmental success within the shipping industry will only be achieved by honesty and transparency, as well as cross-party collaboration that works from a foundation of objectivity in finding the right combination of solutions to meet emissions reduction targets.

Gregory concluded: “Shipping is at a critical crossroads, where a proactive approach to reducing emissions will be rewarded with a reputation as a leading innovator and a benchmark for success amongst other transport sectors, increasing the tangible value of the industry and those organizations within it that observe the benefits of corporate and social governance and responsibility. Postponement of deadlines and negativity will stifle progression and lead to forced regulation of an industry that is viewed as simply incapable and unwilling to change.”

Source: The Motor Ship