Chinese Ports in Emissions Control Scheme

A number of major Chinese ports could be given a set of emissions control areas after the Chinese Ministry of Transport released detailed guidance on emissions through its ‘Implementation Plan for Emissions Control Zones, according to the Maritime Executive.

Ships will be required to use low-sulphur fuel, starting on January 1, 2017 with a limit of 0.5% set for the total amount of sulphur to be given off at ports while ships are at berth.

In 2020, the IMO's Tier IV 0.5% maximum sulphur fuel content, which is a global initiative, will come into effect.

Read: Ports and their environmental impacts

This initiative coincides with the recent Cop21 forum, which is a major conference, focused on lowering emissions and was fully supported by the global shipping industry.

The IMO has recently warned that if emissions are not lowered in the global shipping industry from the current 3% emitted, emissions in the future could rise by around two to three times by 2050.

Despite this warning, shipping is still the most eco-friendly method of transporting trade, with 3g of CO₂ released per container from a Triple-E, in comparison to 560g per ton emitted from an airplane.