Hong Kong: The managing director of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, Arthur Bowring, has spoken with our sister site about the likely formation of an emissions control area covering shipping in the Pearl River Delta (PRD).
The Fairwinds Charter, which was agreed in Hong Kong in 2010 to cover 2011 and 2012, was a voluntary initiative led by some 13 shipowners to cut emissions in the Special Administrative Region. Since then discussions have taken place across the border with neighbouring Chinese cities while the local Hong Kong government has added an incentive scheme. The local parliament will also shortly debate further proposals whereby it is very likely ships calling Hong Kong will need to switch fuels come the beginning of 2015.
“Shenzhen is moving ahead too,” Bowring said of the neighbouring port city. “There is work going on for air pollution reduction schemes in the Pearl River Delta (PRD),” he said, “it could be fuel switching, it could be cold ironing, but we want it to be an emissions control area or ECA. We want to see regulation so that everyone has to comply – to restore a level playing field. We want it in the PRD too to level the playing field across the ports.”
For the full widespread interview click here. [07/08/13]
