Asia/Pacific News
Australia's NSW Low Sulfur Rules "Will Achieve Nothing"
New cruise-ship-centred sulfur regulations poised to take effect in New South Wales (NSW), Australia "will achieve nothing," especially as cruise ships make up "barely" 5 percent of shipping movements in the state, according to a commentary on the matter by the Australian Financial Review's "Rear Window" Editor Joe Aston.
Aston added that cruise ships account for less than 50 percent of movements in Sydney Harbour, with the majority made up by bulk carriers.
"So this is all red tape that will achieve nothing other than increase the cost of doing business," he said.
He also argued that the two-tiered regulations seemed to cater mainly to Balmain residents, who first began complaining of cruise ship emissions mid-last year.
"The health department says the air in Balmain is as clean (or dirty) as anywhere else, yet the Environment Protection Authority is going ahead and changing the rules," Aston said.
The first of two phases of regulations are expected to take effect beginning October 1, 2015, which will require ships to limit sulfur content in marine fuel to 0.10 percent while berthed in Sydney Harbour.
Beginning in July 2016, the second phase will require all cruise ships traveling in NSW ports to adopt low-sulfur fuel.
Following the complaints last year, NSW premier Mike Baird made the issue of sulfur regulations part of his re-election campaign earlier this year.
