Hong Kong Sets Emissions Enforcement Date

Published Mar 12, 2015 6:58 PM by Wendy Laursen

Hong Kong has announced that its emissions regulations for ocean going vessels will be ready to take effect from July 1, 2015.

The Air Pollution Control (Ocean Going Vessels) (Fuel at Berth) Regulation requires the use of fuel with a sulfur content not exceeding 0.5 percent while at berth in Hong Kong (except during the first hour after arrival and the last hour before departure). Records of fuel switching must be kept for three years.

Failure to ensure the use of low sulfur fuels could attract a six month jail term for owners and masters and a HK$200,000 ($25,000) fine. Failure to maintain correct records could mean lesser penalties, three months in jail and a HK$50,000 ($6,000) fine.

The new regulations are expected to cut sulfur emissions by 12 percent and particulate matter by 6 percent. An infographic on the back page of the South China Morning Post at the end of last year sparked renewed focus on the shipping industry’s air emissions. Titled “A Heavy Toll” the infographic showed that approximately 50 percent of Hong Kong’s SOx emissions, 32 percent of NOx emissions and 37 percent of particulate matter came from the marine industry in 2012.

Hong Kong’s voluntary Fair Winds Charter aimed at reducing air emissions in port officially expired at the end of the year. It is unlikely to be renewed as a result of the introduction of the government’s mandatory requirements.

Regulations mandating emission control measures in port, and thus negating the need for the Charter, have been welcomed by industry figures such as Arthur Bowring, managing director of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, as they will create a fair competitive environment that doesn’t penalize shipowners making an effort to reduce SOx emissions.

“The container industry especially is highly competitive, and if you’ve got carriers paying $2 million more each year for the pleasure of switching fuel, they’re not going to last long in business. So it’s important to maintain a level playing field between the carriers in Hong Kong. That’s why we want the legislation, but we do also want the initiative to spread up into the rest of the Pearl River delta to keep the playing field level for Hong Kong as a port.”

In October last year, nearby Shenzhen in mainland China stated its intention to follow Hong Kong’s voluntary efforts with an incentive scheme, and to work with Hong Kong towards an application to the IMO by 2018 to create an emission control area for the Pearl River Delta.

China is home to seven of the world’s busiest container terminals, and Shenzhen became the third largest container port in the world in 2013. Most of the ocean going vessels calling at Shenzhen burn heavy fuel oil, and it is estimated that about 66 per cent of Shenzhen’s sulfur dioxide emissions, 14 percent of nitrogen oxide and six percent of fine particulates come from port and ship sources.