Guangzhou: Shenzhen Port has entered into agreements with seven shipping companies including China Shipping Container Lines, Cosco Container Lines, Yang Ming Lines, Maersk, OOCL, CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd to cut sulphur oxide emissions. Under the agreement, the companies have voluntarily undertaken only to use fuel with a sulphur content of less than 0.5% while their ships are docked at the terminal.
Authorities are coming up with a $32m annual incentive scheme to help the switch over.
“By joining the Shenzhen Port Green Convention, Hapag-Lloyd has once again demonstrated its commitment to environmental and health protection on a voluntary basis that goes beyond national and international requirements, thus emphasising how important this is to our company,” said Hapag-Lloyd’s chief operating officer, Anthony Firmin.
Shenzhen’s move follows Hong Kong’s pioneering emission cutting plans. Whether the province of Guangdong – the hinterland to Hong Kong and Shenzhen – will follow suit is still unclear, Arthur Bowring, the managing director of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, told Splash. Bowring said Shenzhen wants to have a genuine emissions control area (ECA) by 2018. If the Pearl River Delta (PRD) formed an ECA, Bowring said Shanghai would likely follow suit.
“I am sure if the PRD pursues an ECA, Shanghai will follow,” Bowring said.
With additional reporting by Sam Chambers in Hong Kong
