Sulphur

UN’s International Maritime Organization, IMO, has adopted ambitious requirements for the allowed sulphur content of marine fuels. The requirements lead to less air pollution and thereby to environmental and public health benefits – provided that compliance is ensured through effective enforcement.

In special Sulphur Emission Control Areas – so-called SECAs – the maximum sulphur content in marine fuels has already been reduced to 0.1 % by 1 January 2015. SECAs include a 200 nautical mile zone along the coasts of North America, as well as the entire Baltic Sea and North Sea.

In Denmark, the authorities have ensured effective enforcement and surveillance since the stricter SECA requirements were imposed in 2015, and the result is encouraging; A very high rate of compliance has been seen, which is positive both in terms of environment and health, and in terms of a level playing field.

Danish Shipping actively works to ensure, that an equally effective enforcement IMO mechanism is applied from 2020 when the global limit is reduced from 3.5 % to 0.5%.