Danish Ecological Council: Cleaner Marine Fuel Doesn't Have to be Expensive

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Monday October 13, 2014

Danish Ecological Council senior advisor Kaare Press Kristensen says that switching to cleaner marine fuels is less than some believe, and indeed does not necessarily have to be expensive," IHS Maritime 360 reports.

Kristensen told an audience at the Cleaner and More Energy-Efficient Shipping seminar in Copenhagen that reducing emissions benefits both the industry and society, especially when looking at fuel oil's cost when it comes to healthcare. 

"If you look at the health damage, the price of heavy fuel oil would be four times higher than its costs," said Kristensen.

"This is market failure as society as tax payers pay the price."

He said that in order to ensure a more environmentally-friendly business while maintaining fair competition, governments and the shipping industry must work together to enforce Emission Control Areas (ECAs). 

Beginning in 2015, marine fuel used in ECAs must limit its sulphur content to 0.10 percent by weight or lower. 

"Strict enforcement on an international level is key to efficient and well-accepted regulation. We must have control and punishment for non-compliance," said Kristensen.

Some countries are also in the process of pushing for NOx Emissions Control Areas (NECAs) in ECAs, which would limit nitrogen oxide emissions as well.