World News
EU Considering Legal Action Against Countries Who Haven't Enacted Sulfur Rules
Belgium, Spain, Cyprus, and Hungary are reportedly facing possible legal action by the European Commission for failing to translate European Union (EU) regulations on sulfur limits into law, Argus Media reports.
"If the member states in question fail to act within two months, the cases may be referred to the EU Court of Justice," said formal notices sent by the commission back at the end of July.
The four countries were supposed to have made the EU directive on the sulfur content of marine fuels official in their countries before June 18, 2014.
The regulations, which enforces new International Maritime Organization standards, lowers the maximum sulfur content for marine fuels used by ships in most EU waters to 0.5 percent by 2020.
The area includes the Black Sea, Mediterranean and the east Atlantic.
Emission control areas (ECA) are also included, which will see waters such as the English Channel, the Baltic Sea and the North Sea have its sulfur limits reduced to 0.10 percent by weight beginning in 2015.
The EU is also currently working to hammer out an effective method for sulfur compliance, with one of the more innovative methods currently in progress involving drones.
Key Bunker Prices More
| VLSFO | MGO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $/mt | +/- | $/mt | +/- | |
| Singapore | 647.50 | 1.00 | 770.00 | 3.50 |
| Rotterdam | 601.50 | 2.50 | 754.00 | 2.00 |
| Houston | 619.00 | 11.50 | 795.50 | 3.00 |
| Fujairah | 651.50 | 1.00 | 895.00 | 2.00 |
| Global 20 Ports Average | 664.00 | 1.50 | 856.50 | 2.00 |
| Global 4 Ports Average | 630.00 | 3.00 | 803.50 | 2.50 |
| Global Average Bunker Price | 718.00 | 0.50 | 914.50 | 0.50 |
Popular Now More
-
Apr 24Non-compete clauses have not always been used in a fair and reasonable way in the bunker industry, Maritime Recruitment Company Ltd's Vernon Jayanathan tells Ship & Bunker. -
Apr 23The ship had come to Singapore from St Petersburg. -
Apr 24The arrests were both on Monday.