EMEA News
Rapid Action Needed on Environmental Technologies
Finland's Minister of Transport Merja Kyllönen has said in a press release that investment in environmental technologies to help the maritime industry adapt to new sulfur regulations will be a "major topic" in the country's upcoming budget discussions.
Kyllönen said that the investment in environmental technology would improve the level of environmental protection in shipping, promote the development of environmental technology and employment in the field, and help the shipping industry to adapt to sulfur regulations.
According to the release, in practical terms the investment would range from building environmentally friendly vessels to retrofitting existing vessels with scrubbers.
"We should seize the new opportunities presenting themselves in the market," she said, adding that it was "vital" that the government can agree upon an adequate sum of money "to achieve a genuine impact on adaptation."
Kyllönen also said it was "crucial" to consider alternative solutions to tackle sulfur limits, in particular the use of liquid natural gas (LNG) and biofuels as future alternatives for marine fuels.
"Their wide-scale introduction will take years, however, and what we need now is rapid action. My Ministry is currently leading an investigation of future energy forms for transport, including various options for shipping," she said.
