EMEA News
HELCOM Agrees to Green Tech and Alternative Fuels Work Plan
The Baltic Ports Organization (BPO) says a recent Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) meeting saw participants agree to a work plan for the maritime sub-group on green ship technology and alternative fuels.
In order to reduce exhaust gas emissions and greenhouse gases from ships, the group's work is said to focus on the development and enhanced use of green technologies and alternative fuels, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, and other propulsion technologies.
"The development and implementation of these technologies is of high importance in the Baltic Sea region, which can be considered a green technology testing ground due to various regulations and restrictions applied in the area, e.g. SECA (sulfur emission control areas) and NECA (nitrogen emission control areas)," explains BPO.
The meeting, which took place from February 28 to March 1 in Helsinki, Finland, also saw the group agree to work plans for the Cooperation Platform on Port Reception Facilities (PRFs).
In November, HELCOM welcomed a decision by the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Maritime Environmental Protection Committee at its 70th session (MEPC 70) to support the designation of a North Sea and Baltic Sea NECA.
As Ship & Bunker previously reported, HELCOM countries of both Baltic Sea and North Sea areas had put forth parallel applications for a NECA to the IMO.
