January, 2013:

Submitted by admin on Jan 21st 2013, 12:00am

News› Hong Kong

ENVIRONMENT

Phila Siu phila.siu@scmp.com

Cruise ships could see change next year, but power facilities at Kai Tak will take longer

It will take several years for the government to introduce onshore electricity power facilities at the Kai Tak cruise terminal but a law requiring ocean-going vessels berthing at the city to use cleaner fuel can be in place next year at the earliest.

Undersecretary for the Environment Christine Loh Kung-wai made these remarks at a forum yesterday when challenged by green activists about emission levels after the Kai Tak cruise terminal opens in June.

According to the think tank Civic Exchange, vessels visiting Ocean Terminal emitted 252 tonnes of sulphur dioxide in 2007 – comparable to the 286 tonnes of vehicle emissions in Hong Kong in 2010.

Loh said the government planned to build onshore electricity facilities for cruises berthing at the Kai Tak terminal as soon as possible, but it could take several years.

She said the government first needed to draft a proposal, which then has to be passed by the Legislative Council’s environmental affairs panel and the Finance Committee. The next step would be to invite a tender. The whole process would take several years, she said.

Explaining why the government had not introduced the measure before now, Loh said: “There had been no international standard on how it should be done until around the middle of last year. Now that we know how to do it, it [the standard] will be very useful to us in the future.”

Loh also said that the government planned to introduce a law next year at the earliest requiring all ocean-going vessels – not just cruises – to use fuel with a cleaner sulphur content when in the city.

Hong Kong would be the first city in Asia to have this law if it were passed, although some European countries already had it, Loh said.

“We are determined … we need to protect Hongkongers’ health,” she said.

Other speakers at the forum, including Friends of the Earth’s senior environmental affairs officer Melonie Chau Yuet-cheung, agreed these two measures needed to be taken.

But they wanted more to be done as the Kai Tak cruise terminal will open in June, meaning there will be a “time gap” in between.

“Vehicles do not generate the most pollution. They are only the third on the list. Topping the list are the vessels,” Chau said.

Labour sector lawmaker Kwok Wai-keung, from the Federation of Trade Unions, said the situation was “worrying”, and suggested that the government charge a higher fee for vessels using more polluting fuel than those using cleaner fuel when they berth at the city.

Loh said that the government had introduced a programme in which vessels switching to low-sulphur fuel could get a 50 per cent reduction on port and navigation charges. She also said that there was already a voluntary scheme, the Fair Winds Charter, under which vessel operators agreed to switch to low-sulphur fuel to the maximum extent possible for two years from January 2011.

The public should not underestimate the effectiveness of these programmes, Loh said.

Topics:

Kai Tak Cruise Terminal

Air Pollution

Fuel

Electricity Supply

Environment

Christine Loh

http://hedleyindex.sph.hku.hk/home.php

http://shipandbunker.com/news/world/446959-shippers-cite-barriers-to-low-sulfur-fuel-use-in-hong-kong

Shippers Cite Barriers to Low-Sulfur Fuel Use in Hong Kong

Tuesday January 15, 2013

Many shipping companies are concerned about the cost of using low-sulfur fuel in Hong Kong The cost of shifting to low-sulfur fuel is a factor in the low participation of Hong Kong‘s government initiative to promote fuel-switching at its port, South China Morning Post reports. As part of efforts to reduce air pollution, since September 2012 the city-state’s government has offered rebates for ships that use low-sulfur fuel during their port calls there, but the payments are said not to be enough to compensate for using the more expensive fuel. The report said only 13 percent of the ocean going vessels calling in Hong Kong have registered for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) scheme. “There is a significant financial commitment to switching fuel,” said Roberto Giannetta of the Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association. A spokeswoman for Evergreen Marine said just one of its container ships was registered because of “cost saving considerations.”

Fair Winds Charter More than 560 ships participate in the low-sulfur program launched in September, and about 18 shipping lines are part of the Fair Winds Charter, which requires them to use low-sulfur fuel “to the maximum extent possible” over a two-year period starting at the beginning of 2011. Some shippers, including APL and Hanjin Shipping, have signed the Fair Winds Charter but have not yet registered any ships with the EPD incentive scheme.“I know one prominent carrier who is switching fuel in Hong Kong, but does so quietly” Roberto Giannetta, Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association Giannetta said some carriers also have non-financial reasons for not taking part in the program.   “I know one prominent carrier who is switching fuel in Hong Kong, but does so quietly without joining the charter or the government scheme because if they do so here in Hong Kong, they would face tremendous pressure in their home country to do the same,” he said. “Yet there are specific reasons why they don’t want to do that at home.” Shipping lines that participate in the low-sulfur programs have called for the Hong Kong and Guangdong, China governments to make use of low-sulfur fuel mandatory. Maersk Line recently said it would stop using low-sulfur bunkers in Hong Kong unless the government regulates its use to stop shippers who don’t switch getting a cost advantage.

Ship & Bunker News Team To contact the editor responsible for this story email us at editor@shipandbunker.com

Marine Air Pollution in Hong Kong – Clear the Air

Watch the video and see where 1/3 of our daily toxic pollution comes from!

It seems the Marine Department’s Ringelmann chart is locked up in a dark room and the spotters are on holidays for the past 10 years.

Here is the video link:  http://vimeo.com/55450426

Then sign the petition to ask our Government to get our waters designated by China as an Emissions Control Area (ECA)

http://hongkongpollutionwatch.blogspot.hk/2012/12/sign-this-petition-to-stop-vessel-smoke.html

1.    IMO | North American emission control area comes into effect on 1 …

www.imo.org ›

31 Jul 2012 – The North American Emission Control Area (ECA), under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), …

2.    IMO | Sulphur oxides (SOx) – Regulation 14

www.imo.org › … ›

These controls divide between those applicable inside Emission Control Areas (ECA) established to limit the emission of SOx and particulate matter and those …

3.    IMO | Special Areas Under MARPOL

www.imo.org › … ›

You +1’d this publicly.

Annex VI Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships establishes certain sulphur oxide (SOx) Emission Control Areas with more stringent controls …

4.    Sulphur Emission Control Area – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECA) are a sea areas where there are stricter requirements for used bunker fuel compared to other sea areas. SECA is …

5.    Emission Control Area – Condition Monitoring

Following agreement at IMO and incorporation into European law, the Baltic Sea became the first fully implemented SOx Emission Control Area in August 2006.

6.    North American Emission Control Area

9 Dec 2012 – In Resolution MEPC.190(60), the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex VI

1.    IMO | Special Areas Under MARPOL

Annex VI Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships establishes certain sulphur oxide (SOx) Emission Control Areas with more stringent controls

SEE WHAT HK GOVERNMENT EPD HAD TO SAY

CTA says: if HK Government can mandate the import and use of Euro V diesel in Hong Kong it can also control what standard of bunker fuel is imported here !  All ships serving Baltic, North Sea and USA ports have twin tanks to comply with Emission Control Zone low sulphur fuel laws. Those ships also visit Hong Kong port and are carrying the low sulphur bunker fuel already.

From: tony_yt_lee@epd.gov.hk [mailto:tony_yt_lee@epd.gov.hk]  Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 17:54 To: James Middleton
Cc: christopher.dewolf@gmail.com; enquiry@epd.gov.hk; phoebelui@epd.gov.hk
Subject: E(11/1515) : Port Strategy – A new dawn

Dear Mr Middleton,

Thank you for your messages of 23 and 26 June.   The consolidated reply of EPD and the Marine Department (MD) is as follows.

1. What is the actual fuel sulphur cap here?
Ans. According to Regulation 29(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution) Regulation, the sulphur content of any fuel oil used on board ships in Hong Kong is not to exceed 4.5% m/m.

2.  How is this enforced for incoming vessels which refueled elsewhere?
Ans. According to Regulations 33(4) and 34 of the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution) Regulation, all incoming ships of 400 gross tonnage or above and engaged in international voyage shall carry Bunker Delivery Notes (BDN) with the associated representative sample of the fuel on board.  The BDN and the representative sample are subject to inspection by Government Surveyors.

3.  What samples are taken to ensure the ships are conforming to “grey smoke emissions instead of black smoke”?
Ans. MD is currently using Ringelmann Chart for the identification of black smoke.  If a ship emits smoke of or darker than Shade 2 for continuous 3 minutes, the emission is regarded as black smoke.

4.  Since these Charter member shipping lines have opted to switch to ULSD only at berth and not whilst sailing within Hong Kong waters what has Government done to seek their compliance whilst underway rather than just at berth?
Ans. The Fair Winds Charter signatories have committed themselves to switching their vessels to 0.5% sulphur fuel when at berth.  While sailing underway within HK waters, these vessels must meet the sulphur limit requirement stipulated under MARPOL Annex VI.  As mentioned, since China has not designated its waters (including that of Hong Kong) as an Emission Control Area, there is no vehicle for Hong Kong to “require” operators to use fuels of more stringent specifications.

5.  What is the sulphur content of bunker fuel supplied for refueling in Hong Kong?
Ans. It must be below 4.5% and is usually in the range of 3.5% – 4.0%.  You may contact the local suppliers in the attached document for details or access the MD’s website on the link provided for that document.

http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/msnote/pdf/oilsupreg.pdf <http://www.mardep.gov.hk/en/msnote/pdf/oilsupreg.pdf>

6.  Hong Kong is supposed to be an independent territory for 50 years from 1997 is it not?  We make our own laws do we not ?  The EPD intends to designate Low Emission Zones for traffic on Nathan Road, Causeway Bay and Central so that only Euro 5 diesels / hybrids will be allowed to enter those areas.  I see no difference with doing the same for HK waters – either meet the relevant standards or do not enter our waters or be fined if you do.
Using “China did not do it” is a lame duck reply more worthy of Donald Tsang than a body supposed to be looking after the air quality here , in this 50 year independent SAR.
Ans.  Under MARPOL Annex VI, there are general requirements on the sulphur content of any fuel oil used on board ships.  There is also a mechanism for member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to apply for designating its waters as an Emission Control Area (ECA), within which the requirements are more stringent than the general requirements.  This mechanism is not mandated for all member States to designate its waters, in whole or in part, as an ECA.  As a matter of fact, Hong Kong is an associate member of IMO, not a full member (member state) and thus cannot file an application for ECA designation by Hong Kong itself.

Best regards,
Tony YT Lee

http://shipandbunker.com/news/world/711143-hong-kongs-ships-most-significant-source-of-sulfur-dioxide-pollution

Tuesday January 15, 2013

Chief executive Leung Chun-ying is expected to introduce new maritime pollution rules

Ships produced more sulfur pollution in Hong Kong than power plants in 2011, according to the South China Morning Post.

Quoting soon-to-be released government data, Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing said ships, already the biggest emitter of nitrogen oxides and suspended particles, became the most significant sources of sulfur dioxide as well.

Hong Kong has cracked down on power plants since 2010, adding pollutant-removing scrubbers, but marine pollution has increased.

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying is expected to announce new plans next week to reduce emissions from ocean-going vessels, local ferries, and other ships.

“Voluntary schemes might not be the best – we might need something stronger”

Wong Kam-sing, secretary for the environment, Hong Kong

Wong refused to say whether Leung would introduce mandatory requirements concerning marine pollution, but he said existing rules that offer compensation to ships switching to low-sulfur fuels are not enough.

“Voluntary schemes might not be the best – we might need something stronger,” he said.

Shipping companies have said the voluntary plan is difficult to accept because it gives a cost advantage to companies that don’t sign on to it.

Wong said Hong Kong must address both marine and roadway pollution sources, and measures allowing only low-emission buses on some busy corridors will be put in place in 2015.

Ship & Bunker News Team
To contact the editor responsible for this story email us at editor@shipandbunker.com