Sulphur Regulation Enforcement Support Gathers Momentum
Trident Alliance, the shipping industry initiative for robust enforcement of maritime sulphur regulations, broadens its platform as some of Germany’s and Denmark’s most prominent shipping companies join its ranks together with new members from Chile, Greece, The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Belgium.
Roger Strevens, Chairman, is delighted at the level of industry engagement: “We are just a few weeks away from what will be a sea-change in the regulatory landscape for shipping, namely the introduction of the 0.1 % sulphur limits in ECA zones on 1 January 2015. It is reassuring to witness that so many companies want to make sure the new regulations are implemented in a way that ensures the intended environmental benefits as well as a level playing field.”
The Trident Alliance welcomes:
- Hapag-Lloyd
- DFDS
- Ionic Shipping
- Euro Marine Logistics
- Marinvest
- Grieg Star
- Wijnne Barends
- Seatrade
- Spliethoff
- Transfennica
- Biglift
- Ultrabulk
- Ultragas
- Ultratank
This brings membership to a total of 31 companies. The member company CEO’s have each signed a Statement of Commitment, in which they commit to supporting robust and transparent enforcement of sulphur regulations as well as to complying with said regulations.
Active Participation
The Trident Alliance continues to participate in industry conferences, working groups and media outreach to realize its objective of raising awareness around the current shortcomings in enforcement of sulphur regulations and the entailing risk to human health, the environment and fair competition.
Amongst other events, the Trident Alliance has been invited to present at a European Parliament event in Brussels on sulphur compliance on December 11. The meeting, entitled “Cutting air pollution from ships – Will ships comply? Will ports enforce the new sulphur directive?” is to be hosted by Jytte Guteland, MEP and will provide an ideal opportunity to raise the enforcement concerns of the Trident Alliance with those who have the influence to improve matters in Europe.
On the other side of the Atlantic there have been positive developments in relation to how the US Coast Guard and EPA will take a coordinate approach to the new requirements effective 1 Jan, 2015. “We welcome recent statements from the US Coast Guard and EPA, acknowledging their important role in maintaining a level playing field as well as showing they will be stepping up enforcement activities to ensure compliance. The announced combination of checking bunker delivery notes, fuel oil sampling and in-the-field screening should be effective,” says Roger Strevens.
