APL ships to burn low-sulphur fuel at Singapore port

Singapore-based liner NOL Group has committed to burn low-sulphur marine gasoil (MGO) on all its vessels calling at the port of Singapore, effective 13 April, Seatrade-asia reports. “We are proud to be the first container shipping line to convert to cleaner-burning fuel here,” said Eng Aik Meng, president of APL, the NOL Group's shipping arm. APL makes nearly 900 port calls with about 80 ships at Singapore port each year. “We hope this will inspire other shipping lines to follow suit,” Eng said. APL's switch to burning cleaner fuel beats a deadline set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The deadline calls for reducing the sulphur content of bunker fuel to 3.5% in 2012 and 0.5% in 2020. MGO contains 0.25% sulphur content compared to the widely-used high-sulphur 380 centistoke (cst) bunker fuel with about 3.5% to 4.5% sulphur content. MGO grade, however, costs much more compared to 380 cst bunker fuel. Singapore 380 cst costs around $681 per metric tonne (pmt) compared to $1,053 pmt for MGO, according to Bunkerworld data Tuesday. The decision, which comes at a higher cost to APL, is expected to curb sulphur oxides emissions from its ships by almost 90%. Ash and particulate matter emissions could be reduced by 80-90%. APL began its voluntary fuel-switching programme in Los Angeles and Seattle in 2007. The shipping line has since extended the programme to Vancouver, Hong Kong, New York and New Jersey.