Hong Kong to Make Low-Sulphur Fuel Mandatory

Beginning July 1, 2015, ocean going vessels berthed in Hong Kong will likely be required to make use of cleaner burning fuels or be confronted with steep fines.

Hong Kong’s Environmental Protection Department unveiled particulars of the brand new low sulphur gas rules on Wednesday that may guarantee lowered ship emissions and improved air high quality in native communities.

Known because the Air Pollution Control (Ocean Going Vessels) (Fuel at Berth) Regulation, ocean going vessels (OGVs) will likely be required to make use of bunkers with a sulphur content material no better than .5% whereas berthing. Ships may even be allowed to make use of liquefied pure gasoline and different fuels authorized by the Director of Environmental Protection, or use gasoline “scrubbers” to make sure the low-sulphur requirement is met.

Since September 2012, Hong Kong has incentivized shipowners to fulfill the .5% mark with decrease charges, nevertheless the brand new regulation will make the .5% obligatory. With the earlier scheme, “at-berth” was outlined as vessels which might be moored at buoys, anchorages, wharfs or terminals or docks withinin Hong Kong waters.

“The Regulation prohibits OGVs from using any fuel other than compliant fuel while at berth in Hong Kong, except during the first hour after arrival and the last hour before departure,” a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department mentioned in a press release concerning the brand new rules. “The shipmasters and ship owners are required to record the date and time of fuel switching and keep the relevant records for three years. If an OGV uses technology that can achieve the same or less emission of sulphur dioxide (SO2) when compared with using low-sulphur marine fuel, the OGV may be exempted from switching to compliant fuel.”

Once in impact, masters and homeowners of ocean going vessels not assembly the gas requirement could possibly be liable to a most positive of HKD$200,000 (>US$25,000) and 6 months imprisonment. Furthermore, shipmasters and ship homeowners who fail to file or hold the required particulars may even be liable to a most positive of HKD$50,000 and imprisonment for 3 months.

The new regulation is predicted to take impact July 1, 2015, pending the approval from the native Legislative Council. The regulation will likely be tabled earlier than the Council subsequent Wednesday, March 18.

According to the Environmental Protection Department estimates, SOx emissions from ships at berth account for about 40 % of the whole SOx emissions throughout a ship’s keep in Hong Kong. The new regulation may assist scale back the whole emissions of SOx by 12% and general particulate matter by 6%, the EPD estimates.