Asia/Pacific News
New South Wales Government Calling for Feedback on Low-Sulfur Regulations
The Australian New South Wales (NSW) government has announced that it is calling for feedback on new proposed regulations that would require cruise ships to use low-sulfur fuel.
The amendments to the current Clean Air Regulation would come in two stages, with the first phase requiring cruise ships to use fuel with less than a 0.10 percent sulfur content while berthed in Sydney Harbour beginning October 1, 2015.
The second stage, effective July 1, 2016, would require ships to switch to the low-sulfur fuel while operating in NSW waters.
Low-sulfur requirements were first brought up earlier this year by NSW Premier Mike Baird, who successfully campaigned for re-election with promises of instituting a low-sulfur cap.
The issue of cruise ship emissions and noise pollution has been ongoing since summer of last year, when residents around the newly built White Bay Cruise Terminal began complaining of adverse health effects.
As a result, a follow-up parliamentary inquiry recommended that shore power be installed.
The government has also recently announced a ban on cruise ships berthing overnight at the terminal until definitive action is taken on the sulfur regulations.
However, it was reported earlier this week that critics were calling the berthing ban a "hollow"
promise, especially as cruise ships aren't scheduled to berth there overnight until mid-December.
