Environment
Navigating new emission rules
As new Emission Control Areas emerge in European waters, how will cruise operators invest in fuel compliance and emission-reduction technology? Keri Allan reports.
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n 2025 and 2026 respectively, the Mediterranean and Norwegian seas will be the latest bodies of water to become Emission Control Areas (ECAs). These regulations will require all ships to use fuel with less than 0.10% sulphur content within these areas or use sulphur abatement technology if approved by the flag state. In the case of the Norwegian Sea ECA, which will also cover some inland waterways – fjords – there’s an additional requirement relating to nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.
Different tiers of control will be applied based on
a ship’s construction date, and various means are available for ships to comply. These include engine design, using alternative fuels, and installing devices such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR).
The impact on cruise operators While the new ECAs will have regulatory, operational and financial impacts for all vessels, these will likely be more pronounced for cruise operators, notes Mark Towl, Lloyd’s Register’s principal regulatory risk specialist. Cruise ships will likely have multiple port calls and extended stays within ECAs, requiring constant compliance with emission standards, whereas cargo vessels spend less time in these areas and can have their compliance managed more strategically, explains Towl.
“Because of their frequent and extended stays in port, cruise operators will likely face increased costs associated with very low sulphur fuel for emission compliance,” he says.
“Due to the nature of their operations, cargo ships often spend less time in ports or in coastal waters compared to cruise ships.
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World Cruise Industry Review /
www.worldcruiseindustryreview.com
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