EMEA News
UK Officials: ECA Rules Will Hurt Industry
UK officials representing port constituencies are pushing for amended rules on sulfur emissions to give the shipping industry more time to adapt, the Financial Times reports.
As most operators comply with the new rules for Emissions Control Areas (ECAs) by switching from fuel oil to marine diesel, fuel costs on UK sea routes could rise by more than £300 million ($505 million), resulting in higher costs to customers and pushing 1.3 million to 3.6 million tonnes of freight onto roads, consulting group Amec claims.
"The Humber is the UK's busiest trading route and I am deeply worried that this legislation with see the withdrawal of shipping routes from Hull next year," said Karl Turner, member of parliament for Hull East.
The Port of Tyne also said the new rules are hurting cruise ship bookings.
The UK Chamber of Shipping called for Prime Minister David Cameron to lobby the European Union (EU) to delay the start of the rules to give shippers time to install scrubbers or retrofit ships to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkers.
DFDS has said it will end one ferry route between England and Denmark partly because of the extra costs involved in ECA compliance.
