Hot on the heels of Neptune Orient Lines’ decision to switch to low-sulphur fuel for its ships calling at Singapore, Maersk Line announced yesterday that it will be doing the same thing.
‘Maersk is ready to start the switch process anytime – tomorrow, if need be. But we would like to work with (the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore) on details to ensure we move in sync with them and with this ensure to have as wide a support as possible in the industry,’ said Anders Lund Kristensen, head of Maersk Line Asia Pacific Liner Operations.
APL – the shipping line of Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) – made the switch effective from Wednesday for all 80 of its vessels calling at Singapore, the day after both APL and Maersk signed the Maritime Singapore Green Pledge along with eight other firms in the maritime and offshore industry.
The average sulphur content of the low-sulphur fuel oil that Maersk Line’s vessels will be using while calling at Singapore’s ports is one per cent or lower, compared to its regular fuel oil that has an average sulphur content of 2.8 per cent.
Over the 2010-2011 period, Maersk Line expects to have 360-400 Maersk-operated vessels calling at Singapore. Last month, it had made the switch to low-sulphur fuel for its vessels calling at New Zealand, which it said would cut sulphur emissions in port by 80-95 per cent.
Singapore has adopted the International Maritime Organisation’s deadline that calls for reducing the sulphur content of marine fuel to 3.5 per cent by 2012 and to 0.5 per cent in 2020.
Currently, low-sulphur fuel can be almost double the price of regular marine fuel but for now, Maersk plans to absorb the additional cost.
‘At present, we do not have plans to impose any surcharges. We believe, however, that our customers appreciate and value the drive towards providing cleaner, greener and more sustainable ocean transportation,’ said Mr Kristensen.
The shipping line said that it has committed itself to making the switch to the cleaner-burning low-sulphur fuel in at least 10 global locations by 2015.
