New sulphur regulations for marine fuel separate SECA (Sulphur Emission Control Area) from other EU countries. For the EU countries outside SECA the limits amount 4.5%, which is a maximum today and shall decrease to 3.5% from 2010. From 2020 the sulphur limits shall drop to 0.5%, if feasible, otherwise from 2025. The regulations are different for countries within SECA (the area includes the English Channel, North Sea and Baltic Sea). The limits amount to maximum 1.5% today, 1.0% from July 2010 and only 0.1% from 2015.
The attendees of the seminar discussed their influence on the environment, costs of such regulations in relation to maritime shipping and the competitiveness of the Baltic region in comparison to other EU regions. The future situation on the maritime transport market was also under discussion.
BPO organized this seminar to hear the opinions of market representatives as well as their different points of view and shall soon state its position.

Companies attending: Baltic Ports, Associated Danish Ports, BPO, ESPO, Scandlines, Stena Line, Copenhagen Malmö Port, Danish Maritime Authority, Danish Ports, Danish Shipowners’ Association, DFDS A/S, Finnish Maritime Administration, Finnish Port Association, Finnish Shipowners’ Association, Hamburg Port Authority – HPA.