China Ready with ECAs
By Aiswarya Lakshmi
Friday, September 4, 2015
China has taken 'important step' in tackling ship-generated emissions. China is also developing Emission Control Areas (ECAs) in its major ports.
China's Ministry of Transport (MoT) has formally unveiled its five-year working scheme that aims to reduce the country’s shipping emissions.
MoT has also issued a detailed Shipping and Ports Pollution Prevention and Control Implementation Plan. This is the first time that MoT has taken concrete action to address air emissions from ships and port activities.
Vessels and ports are major sources of the severe air pollution choking many coastal cities in China, which is home to eight of the ten busiest (and most densely populated) port cities in the world in terms of freight volume.
By 2020, China hopes to reduce sulfur and nitrogen oxide emissions in the Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River and Bohai Rim by 65, 20 and 40 percent, respectively.
Following implementation, about 90 percent of vessels calling on ports in China will use shore power, and about 50 percent of container and cruise terminals will be capable of providing shore power.
The amended Air Pollution Law now requires the fuel used by ships while at berth to comply with government-set requirements for meeting emission standards. All new terminals should provide shoreside electric power so ships can turn off their diesel engines while at berth.
But low-sulphur fuel initiatives that appeared in a June draft are missing in the final version.