EGCSA Welcomes Findings of Fuel Availability Study for 2020 Global Sulfur Cap

EGCSA says the results of CE Delft's recent study has provided a "clear mandate" for the 2020 implementation date of a 0.50% global sulfur cap on bunkers.

The Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems Association (EGCSA) says the results of CE Delft's recent fuel availability study has provided a "clear mandate" for the implementation of a 0.50 percent global cap on sulfur content in marine fuels in 2020.

As Ship & Bunker previously reported, a study undertaken by CE Delft on behalf of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) found that there are no major barriers to producing enough compliant bunkers to meet such a cap by 2020.

Donald Gregory, Director of EGCSA, commenting on the study results, said that the report "plainly shows that availability of marine fuels is not a reason for the IMO to delay the introduction of the 2020 global sulfur emissions limit."

"The independent assessment comes to the conclusion that there will be sufficient low sulfur marine fuel available by 2020 and that any regional shortcoming can be met by interregional transport."

With an adequate supply of 0.50 percent sulfur marine bunkers and "ample" capacity to both manufacture and install exhaust scrubbers, EGCSA says ship owners have sufficient access to cost-effective solutions to ensure compliance by 2020.

EGCSA says it is concerned that the delay of the sulfur emissions limit from 2020 will not only enable the shipping industry to continue to damage health and the environment through SOx air emissions but also penalise early adopters of lower sulfur operations and lead to "patchwork" local emission control areas (ECAs).

"Putting off a decision on the 2020 global sulfur cap until another MEPC meeting in 2017 or 2018 will end up affecting introduction of the cap and is likely to lead to a delay till 2025. Without a firm decision now, the shipping industry is set to suffer from uncertainty and the world from emissions that pose a risk to health and the environment," said Gregory.

"A decision in principle on introduction of the 2020 cap at MEPC 70 in October 2016 is imperative to allow ship owners to mobilise investment and make strategic decisions in good time for 1 Jan 2020 implementation."

In June, the European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) stressed the importance of emissions reduction schemes for shipping to be implemented globally, warning against moving ahead with a regional European scheme.