Euro Commission finalizes marine diesel sulfur limits

Diesel Fuel News, Nov 25, 2002 by Jack Peckham

As expected, the European Commission is going forward with a proposal to Parliament and Council of Ministers to slash heavy marine fuel sulfur limits to 1.5% for ocean ships in North Sea, English Channel and Baltic Sea, and a 0.2% sulfur limit (0.1% by 2008) on marine gasoil used in ports inside the European Union.

The proposal would phase-in fuel requirements during a "transition period" until July 2007. The proposal is silent on the alternative pushed by oil companies and shipping companies to allow seawater stack scrubbing alternative (see Diesel Fuel News 9/2/02, p6-7).

The proposal also calls on EU member states to push amendments to "Marpol Annex 6" including much lower marine bunker fuel sulfur and much tougher limits on nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions.

The Commission also will bring forth proposed new limits on NOx, particulate matter (PM) and CO from non-road engines that are used on-board vessels operating on inland waterways. A related proposal imposes a 1% sulfur limit on heavy fuel oil used by large inland combustion plants.

What's more, if International Maritime Organization (IMO) fails to propose tougher NOx standards via Marpol-6 amendments, then the Commission may push forward with NOx limits "in line with the proposed Tier 2 standards" coming from U.S. EPA.

The Commission calculates that marine bunker fuel desulfurization will cost about $735 million annually for freight vessels, and about $200 million annually for passenger vessels. The 0.2% sulfur gasoil for port use will impose about $133 million annual costs.