EMEA News
ECSA Launches Sulfur Survey to Measure Impact of ECAs
The European Community Shipowners' Association (ECSA) has launched a survey to more accurately measure the economic impacts of upcoming Emission Control Areas (ECA).
"As we get closer to the entry into force of the new rules it becomes vital to move to fact-based analyses and take stock of what is actually happening in the market," said Patrick Verhoeven, ECSA Secretary-General.
Beginning January 2015, ECA regulations will come into play, limiting sulfur content in marine fuel to 0.10 percent by weight.
The ECSA said that though other reports have been published on the implementation of the sulfur rules and the possible ensuing shift from sea to land-based transport, those reports have mostly been based on forecasts.
The survey was agreed upon at the European Sustainable Shipping Forum (ESSF).
"We strongly encourage ship operators to take part in this survey as it is very important to get an accurate picture of the situation before and after the entry into force of the new sulfur rules," said Verhoeven.
The survey will attempt to gather data from ship operators who are wholly or partly active in the European ECAs, and will be repeated quarterly throughout 2015.
ECAs have also prompted the ECSA to release an open letter early this year calling for alternate methods of ECA enforcement that goes beyond widespread sampling, as that would penalize vessels that have technical or operational problems while switching from heavy fuel oil to compliant low-sulfur fuel.
