By
Rebecca Gibson |
UK operator Red Funnel Isle of Wight Ferries has revealed its support for the UK Chamber of Shipping’s campaign to reduce sulphur emissions in a way that protects jobs and businesses.
As part of the Chamber of Shipping’s campaign, the UK government has been encouraged to review the timing, economic and wider environmental impact of the impending regulations, which come into force on 1 January 2015 in European Union sulphur emission control areas.
Concerns centre around the fact that the demand and price of low-sulphur fuel could increase considerably as shipowners weigh up alternative solutions, such as installing scrubber technology or converting tonnage to run on LNG fuel. The additional cost of low sulphur fuel could also jeopardise the viability of some sea routes and lead to more overland transport, which has wider environmental consequences.
For the last 18 years, Red Funnel’s fleet of three ro-pax vessels and three high-speed catamarans have all been fuelled with 0.1% low-sulphur marine gas oil, making the company the only cross-Solent vehicle ferry operator to use low-sulphur fuel on all of its services.
While the fuel is more expensive than traditional fuels, it has enabled the company to significantly reduce its sulphur emissions over the last 18 years and helped to improve air quality for the Isle of Wight and Southampton.
“Red Funnel is proud to have reduced its sulphur emissions some 18 years ahead of these statutory regulations and also for the other voluntary initiatives that have reduced the environmental impact of our services,” said Kevin George, CEO. “In 2011, the company was one of the first UK ferry operators to be awarded ISO14001 for its environmental performance.”