Asia/Pacific News
Hong Kong: New Low Sulfur Regs Can Reduce Emissions by 60%
Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for the Environment in Hong Kong, Wednesday said the upcoming requirement for ocean going vessels at berth within Hong Kong waters to use marine fuel with a sulfur content not exceeding 0.50 percent can reduce their level of sulfur dioxide and suspended particulates emissions by more than 60 percent.
Kan-sing's comments came in response to a question on air pollution in the Kwai Chung Container Terminals (KCCTs) area from Chan Han-pan in Hong Kong's Legislative Assembly.
Kan-sing also said that current air quality monitoring data shows that while the sulfur dioxide concentrations recorded in the Kwai Chung District, which are affected by emissions from the vessels berthing at the KCCTs, have been higher than those at other districts, but are still below the concentration limits of the prevailing air quality objectives.
"In the past three years, the overall air quality in the Kwai Chung District was broadly comparable to that in other areas on both sides of the Victoria Harbour, such as Kwun Tong, Sham Shui Po, and Tsuen Wan," said Kan-sing.
"Apart from being affected by the number and size of cargo vessels, the level of sulfur dioxide concentration is also subject to the influence of the fuel quality used by the vessels and meteorological factors," he added.
In May, it was reported that vessel masters and owners who fail to comply with a new low sulfur regulation in Hong Kong, which comes into effect in on July 1, face a maximum fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for six months.
