US urged to act now, or risk losing emissions vote

News was prepared under the information support of Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and international Shipping "Hellenic Shipping News".

29 Jun 2008

The US Senate is being urged to act now, or risk being excluded from future amendments to shipping emissions legislation. A report by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said that without timely Senate action, the United States delegation, led by the US Coast Guard, would not be permitted to vote on important amendments to the MARPOL treaty being considered at a International Maritime Organization (IMO) meeting in October. Proposed amendments to the MARPOL Annex VI treaty include reductions in fuel sulphur content from 4.5% to 3.5% beginning in 2012.
Allowable levels will then slowly drop until they reach 0.5% in 2020. This would, in effect, see the end of heavy fuel oil use, the report stated.
CLIA president Terry Dale has written to the senators, highlighting the fact that the far-reaching amendments will set more stringent standards for maritime air emissions, which will provide air quality benefits for America’s coastlines and port communities, the CLIA report said.
"The United States has been a leader in discussions on these and other strengthening amendments, but without Senate action will not be considered an official party to the upcoming negotiations," Dale commented.
"On the other hand, Senate action on implementing legislation will send an important message that the United States does not wish to sit on the sidelines and that we are committed to sound public policy that truly benefits the global environment," Dale added.
Senators plan to take a recess at the end of this month. Proponents of the MARPOL bill say the lawmakers have until June 28 to pass the legislation, which will then require signature by President George Bush.
The letter from the CLIA follows a request by The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) to the Senate to approve H.R.802, the Maritime Pollution Prevention Act of 2007 before the end of this week, so that it can be signed into law by the President ahead of the IMO meeting.
The US is already a party to Annex VI, however the bill will make its provisions law in the US so they apply to ships in local ports and waters.
The bill also includes enforcement provisions for the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the US Coast Guard, and allows the government to set up special emissions control areas.

Source: Sustainable Shipping