The Baltic Ports Organization (BPO) has slammed forthcoming fuel regulations as "unacceptable" saying they will put Baltic ports and shipping lines " in a disadvantageous position."
The Baltic Sea has been designated as an emission control area (ECA) by the International Maritime Organization, which means ships operating there face stringent fuel sulphur limits.
While the BPO said that it values action by the Baltic Sea region's governments and the IMO to protect the climate and the environment of the Baltic Sea, it said it foresees a number of threats as a result of the new regulations.
"Unfair competition rules will be applied in the European internal market positioning Baltic ports and shipping lines in a disadvantageous position," said BPO in a statement.
BPO also raised concerns that development of the Baltic Sea region and industries would face a substantial barrier, which is in contradiction to the goals of the EU Baltic Sea Strategy adopted by the European Council during its meeting on 29-30 October, 2009.
"The SOx limits and time framework introduced by IMO's regulations should be revised together with the consultation process between the regulating bodies and the industry organizations.
"Baltic ports wish to contribute to the competitiveness of Europe and to climate protection. Therefore, BPO seeks to establish a dialogue with the regulating bodies including European Commission in order to find alternative ways to avoid unbalanced competition within the European internal market and modal back-shift," the Organization concluded.
Under the IMO's MARPOL Annex VI regulation, the global sulphur cap will be reduced from the current 4.50% to 3.50% effective from January 1, 2012, then to 0.50% in 2020 or 2025, depending on a 2018 review.
The limit applied in ECAs will be reduced from the current 1.50% to 1.00%, beginning July 1, 2010 before being further reduced to 0.10% from January 1, 2015.
Currently the only IMO-designated ECAs in force are in the Baltic Sea, in the North Sea and English Channel.