A move to make the entire world merchant fleet switch from residual to much more expensive distillate fuel made considerable headway at a meeting in Oslo last week of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Bulk Liquids and Gas Sub Committee’s Working Group on Air Pollution.
Intertanko proposed a global sulphur content cap of 1% (against the current 4.5%) by 2010, to be educed to 0.5% by 2015, which would be achieved by compulsorily switching wholesale to distillate fuel. Intertanko had lobbied intensely during the run-up to the meeting on the issue which has split the main shipping industry representative organisations.
Intertanko says the switch would lead to a large reduction of SOx, and PM emissions and significant further reduction of NOx and CO2 emissions with no other investment than a higher price for the fuel. Most other shipping industry organisations argued against the proposals and for a ‘holistic’ approach incorporating more than one technical solution, partly on expense and supply grounds and partly for environmental reasons.
However, the Intertanko proposal has received considerable support with several countries expressing support. It is understood that the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the US all indicated a level of support for the idea. In addition the European Commission, which has observer status at IMO, said that it would discuss the matter at Brussels.
The working group is taking forward three options: the status quo, stricter limits in SECAs and one based closely on the Intertanko proposa; athough leaving open the possibility of using residual fuel with abatement technology.