Sweden’s Port of Gothenburg’s campaign to save sulphur emissions is making progress. During 2013, 49 vessels took part resulting in a saving of 120 tonnes of sulphur emissions.
The aim of the campaign, which is funded through the port charge, is to reduce emissions from shipping and to facilitate preparations in the lead-up to the new EU sulphur director, which comes into effect in 2015.
Shipping companies operating in the Port of Gothenburg that switch to marine gas oil, LNG or another similar fuel with a maximum of 0.1% sulphur content, can take part in the environmental campaign. Each company is rewarded up to SEK 250,000 per year per vessel. In total, SEK4m was paid out during 2013.
One such company is B-Gas, which took part in 2013 with nine vessels.
“We want to support innovative initiatives related to a cleaner environment and it felt perfectly natural to be part of the Port of Gothenburg work in this area,” said Kim Kristensen, president, B-Gas.
Other companies that participated in 2013 include Thun Tankers, Maersk Sverige, Stena Oil, Topoil, OW Bunker and Scandinavian Shipping.
The campaign is funded through the port charge, which for many years has meant payment of a surcharge if a ship’s fuel sulphur content is more than 0.5%.
To control the programme, the port is currently carrying out a co-funded study to monitor the vessel entering or leaving the port.
“Flue gas plumes are analysed via a measuring station located on the roof of the Älvsborg fortress. This allows us to measure the level of sulphur in the fuel and to determine how effective the sulphur programme actually is,” added Anna Jivén, Gothenburg’s environmental manager.
The programme will continue in 2014.
