The Asian Shipowners’ Forum (ASF) Safe Navigation & Environment Committee (SNEC) SNEC has, like its ASEAN counterpart, issued a statement opposing Intertanko’s proposal for the world fleet5 to switch from residual to distillate fuel.
However the move was made against a strong recommendation from Hong Kong Shipowners’ Association in favour of the Intertanko initiative. HKSOA’s director Arthur Bowring was unable to attend the SNEC meeting but told Anderimar Shipping News from Manila, where he was attending a conference: “We are sticking to our guns on this issue. We could not attend the meeting, and we sent a strong recommendation in advance of the meeting that the SNEC support Intertanko. Unfortunately, it appears that the meeting decided to take a different position.”
The SNEC statement says that while it fully supports efforts in environmental protection, is concerned with Intertanko’s proposal for all ships to switch from residual fuel to distillate fuel. It argues: “Besides substantial cost increase, the Committee is particularly concerned whether there were any due consideration given to the supply capability of the refining industry to meet the sudden increased demand for distillate fuel.The SNEC is in favour of a gradual reduction in the sulphur cap on gas emission from bunker fuel over a period of time. At the same time, thorough feasibility studies should continue into the use of abatement technologies.”