New emission norms to hit shipping companies

07 Sep 2011 Evaluate

Indian shipping companies, reeling under low freight rates and high fuel prices, will face further cost pressure due to new emission norms set by International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Shipping firms, including the country’s largest — Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) — will have to spend more than    Rs 1 crore per ship to convert the fuel type to adapt to the requirements in Europe and US i.e. to lower sulphur content in bunker fuel.

The new emission standards for cargo ships and oil tankers, which are a significant source of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, are likely to be effective by end 2011 or early 2012. Emission from ships has doubled since 1990 and will continue to grow at 2.5% per year. Greenhouse gas emission from ships is estimated to grow above 150% this year from 2007. In August, the IMO came out with new emission norms amid rising pollution by sewage from ships around the Caribbean and Baltic seas. The global shipping industry is going through one of its worst phases with bunker fuel rates hovering around $650 per barrel and Baltic Dry Index, which measures the cost of moving commodities from one point to another, at $1300-1600. Shipyards will also witness a rise in operational cost as they will have to make low-emission vessels, mandatory for all ships with more than 400 tonnes.

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