EU adopts sulphur directive compromise

The agreement recognises that the costs of new requirements to reduce sulphur emissions could have negative effects on the competitiveness of the industry and could produce a modal shift from sea to land. It therefore leaves room for Member States to provide support to operators. Furthermore, the Commission is instructed to make full use of financial instruments that are already in place and promote the development and testing of alternative technologies to reduce emissions from ships.

The compromise text, Directive 1999/32/EC, was negotiated in informal “trilogue” meetings between the European Council, Parliament and Commission and was adopted by the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) back in May. It is in line with Annex VI of the MARPOL Convention and sets the limits for the sulphur content of marine fuels used in designated Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECAs) to 1% until 31 December 2014 and 0.1% as from 1 January 2015.

However, the IMO standard of 0.5 % for sulphur limits outside SECAs will be mandatory in EU waters by 2020. The possibility to postpone it until 2025, foreseen by MARPOL, will not apply in Europe. This also covers passenger ships operating outside SECAs to which the current regime of 1.5 % applies until that date.

The focus is now placed on the ongoing developments regarding the potential compliance strategies by the industry, such as scrubbers and LNG, in view of tackling the associated operational challenges within the pressing timetables. Member states will have 18 months after the entry into force of the directive to adopt the necessary national provisions.