Enforcement of ECA Rules is "the Real Issue"

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Thursday June 12, 2014

Addressing enforcement of new sulfur limits in emissions control areas (ECAs) is the top concern when it comes to addressing the pollution issue, a Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) executive who will present a session about the issue at RORO 2014 said in an emailed press release.

"The sulphur emissions situation is endlessly discussed in the media but the real issue, as I see it, is the enforcement of it" said Roger Strevens, WWL's Environment vice president.

"Within the European ECA, the level of compliance testing is very low. 

"In addition, the compliance costs are heavier than the fines. 

"What this creates is a temptation to not comply and that can put companies who do comply (such as WWL) at a significant competitive disadvantage."

The session will be one of a number addressing the sulfur regulations at the conference, which will be held from June 24 to 26 at ExCel in London.

WWL has helped create the Trident Alliance, a industry group working for better enforcement of the regulations that is said to include 12 shipping lines.

At another conference session, Peter Baker, managing director of PRB Associates will address trends and outlook in the UK short sea market, looking at the effects of the emissions rules on supply and demand.

"We speak to operators, ports and associated businesses to confirm exactly how market capacity is developing" Baker said.

"Channel ports and the Channel Tunnel are currently handling increasing levels of capacity at the expense of longer routes to the continent, and the new low sulphur fuel legislation add to the pricing advantage for shorter routes over longer routes – the trend is likely to run counter to any other initiatives to take lorries off the roads and onto ferries on the North Sea."

Bill Binks, managing director of Mann Lines Ltd., will look at the ECA rules' likely effect on the North Sea and Baltic Sea markets it serves, in connection with the current shipping market.

"Finland is a big region that we serve, for example, and its economy is very flat at the moment - the country is not experiencing the same growth as that reported in the UK and emissions regulations will make this situation even more challenging," he said.

RORO 2014 is free to attend, and visitors can register through its website, roroex.com.