Ship&Offshore | Issue 04/2014
Options to meet ECA requirements
SULPHUR EMISSIONS On August 1st 2012 the North American Emissions Control Area (NAECA) took effect, requiring the use of heavy fuel oil, or residual fuel oil, with a maximum sulphur content of 1% for vessels within 200 miles of the continent. Three years earlier, the US state of California had mandated the use of distillate fuel when vessels come to within 24 miles of its coast. Lessons learnt from California’s experience with distillate fuel may benefit operators when the next phase of NAECA comes into effect on January 1st 2015 and the IMO requires its use within 200 miles of the North American coast. Meanwhile, industry observers have been discussing possible ways for operators to comply with upcoming emission requirements, writes Capt Jeff Cowan. His last ship, the container vessel APL China, was one of the first to perform the California distillate fuel switchover, and he remains involved in maritime fuel matters.