EMEA News
Port of Gothenburg to use "Sniffer" Technology to Ensure 2015 ECA Compliance
The Port of Gothenburg has been outfitted with new technology called a "sniffer" that is capable of detecting sulfur content in exhaust fumes, the port has announced.
The small fridge-sized box will help the Swedish port in enforcing Emission Control Area (ECA) compliance, which will limit sulfur content in marine fuel used in ECAs to 0.10 percent by weight beginning January 1, 2015.
The technology, which has been installed in the port for the last few years in testing, was developed by researchers at the Chalmers University Technology with support from Vinnova, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Gothenburg Port Authority.
"We have worked for almost 10 years to produce methods to monitor compliance with environmental regulations at sea, both from fixed measuring stations such as this and from aircraft," said Johan Mellqvist, a professor at Chalmers University.
"We have monitoring technology that is unique and we are simply waiting for the go-ahead from the Swedish authorities before we can begin using the technology actively."
The technology has so far measured more than 5,000 exhaust plumes in trials.
"The industry is concerned that certain other parties will not follow the rules and that it will lead to a distortion in competition," said Edvard Molitor, senior manager of environment at the Port of Gothenburg.
Our hope is that the technology will be used to monitor compliance with the sulfur directive."
Denmark has also been wrangling with how to best ensure compliance in the new year, having started experimenting with drone technology early in 2014.
