Carriers press for costly low-sulphur fuel use in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association (HKLSA), with agreement from its 21 carrier members, are forwarding a proposal to voluntarily use costly low-sulphur fuel while ships are at berth in Hong Kong harbour.

"After we have made progress, we want to go after the barges and the ferries to do the same," HKLSA secretary Roberto Giannetta told the Hong Kong Shipping Gazette on Saturday. "This will bring us into line with standards in Los Angeles and Vancouver."

Mr Giannetta said the non-sulphur fuel is "very expensive" and costs would be borne by shippers - and locally by the 100,000 passengers who use the Hong Kong ferries every day if the scheme is ever applied to them.

The world's biggest container shipping company Maersk Line, which makes 850 Hong Kong calls a year, already announced its switch low-sulphur fuel, adding that it would cost an extra US$1 million a year.

HKLSA calls its proposal, the Fair Winds Charter, which suggests "participating member shipping lines voluntarily switch to low sulphur fuel while at berth in Hong Kong from January.

HKLSA member are reviewing participation and will respond to the HKLSA secretariat by October 15, said a statement from the group.

The scheme is part of an industry-wide response to global environmentalism, in the face of which the strategy is to "stay ahead of the legislation" that is always threatens with environmentalist pressure.

In Hong Kong's case, pressure came from former Legco member Christine Loh, now head of Civic Exchange, a social activist group, which did a study on ship sulphur emissions and found they were "higher than levels considered healthy", said Mr Giannetta.

Ms Loh went to the authorities, but the government said it preferred an industry-led initiative and thus, the Fair Winds proposal was born with the approval of a majority of HKLSA member organisations, said Mr Giannetta.

"With the voluntary efforts to be made by participating lines, HKLSA urges the Hong Kong SAR government to expedite the discussion with the Guangdong government to introduce regulations, consistent with international standards, on ship emissions in both Hong Kong and PRD [Pan River Delta] by December 31," said the HKLSA statement.

Association members include APL Co Pte Ltd, CMA CGM (HK) Limited, Cosco Container Line Agencies Ltd, Delmas Hong Kong Ltd, Eastern Worldwide Co Ltd, Emirates Shipping Line, Evergreen Star Hong Kong Ltd, Hamburg Sud Hong Kong Ltd, Hanjin Shipping Co, Ltd, Hapag-Lloyd (China) Ltd, Hyundai Merchant Marine (Hong Kong) Ltd, Jardine Shipping Agencies (HK) Ltd, "K" Line (Hong Kong) Ltd, Maersk Hong Kong Ltd, Mitsui OSK Line (HK) Ltd, NYK Line (HK) Ltd, OOCL (HK) Ltd, Swire Shipping (Agencies) Ltd, United Arab Shipping Agency Co (HK) Ltd, Wan Hai Lines (HK) Ltd and Yangming Marine Transport Corporation.
(Source:www.schednet.com)