Maersk Line works to limit emissions of unhealthy sulphur oxides in populated coastal areas. New voluntary fuel switch in Houston, Texas, follows similar initiative in California.
Starting this August, Maersk Line vessels will switch to low-sulphur fuel as they approach Houston, Texas. This is the first extended use of low-sulphur fuels in the region.
At least 24 nautical miles from the shore, the ships’ engines will be running on cleaner fuel, which in turn means that Maersk Line tries to address an environmental issue facing the industry world wide: Emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particles that affect human health and cause acid rain.
Maersk Line is the first to switch in the Gulf of Mexico, and the current initiative follows a similar voluntary program in California, which, since its inception in March 2006, has resulted in praise to Maersk Line from both government and environmental organizations.
Moving on to Texas is all about raising the bar, according to Maersk Line’s North America’s Director of Environment, Lee Kindberg.
“In 2009, California made fuel switching mandatory for all vessels. By then, Maersk Line had previous experience gained without regulatory pressure,” she says.
In Texas, the Port of Houston and Maersk Line have together received a US federal grant to reimburse up to USD 1.48 million to cover all fuel cost differences during port calls to Houston between August 2010 and March 2012.
“The funding will pay the differential costs as Maersk Line vessels switch from high-sulphur bunker fuel to lower-sulphur marine gas oil,” explains Lee Kindberg.
In California and elsewhere, the positive and immediate result of switching fuels in this way is a 95% reduction of Maersk Line SOx emissions and 86% reduction of particles – improving air quality to benefit the coastal population.
The prospects are clear. Both in the US and internationally, authorities continue to focus on reducing SOx, NOx and particles in order to prevent human respiratory ailments and acid rain.
The International Maritime Organization this year approved that the US and Canada can implement an emissions control area, requiring fuel switching, within 200 nautical miles off the North American coast in 2012.
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Maersk Line strategic priorities 2010–2013
SOx Technology and Innovation: Develop and test scrubber technologies to filter exhaust gasses of SOx beyond IMO requirements. Develop plans to retrofit the fleet.
Promote Voluntary Fuel Switches: Extend commitments to subsidized and voluntary fuel switches by at least 10 relevant ports before 2015.
Raise the Regulatory Bar on SOx: Build partnerships with customers, ports et cetera to push for strict sulphur regulations that ensure a level playing field in the shipping industry and create incentives to reduce SOx emissions.
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When the whole shipping industry complies with this emissions control area, the US Environmental Protection Agency estimates billions of USD will be saved on medical expenses.
"We and the rest of the shipping industry have recognized that this environmental issue must be dealt with, and we have been working through international bodies like IMO to set new standards. By fuel switching and innovation, Maersk Line is working to define new solutions and accelerate environmental improvements", says Lee Kindberg.