Policy initiatives > Air pollution from ships > EU shipping strategy

EU shipping strategy

In November 2002 the European Commission published a strategy to reduce air pollution from sea-going ships and a proposal for reducing the sulphur content in marine fuel oils.

Sulphur in marine fuels

As part of the strategy the Commission published a proposal (COM/2002/0595 final) for reducing the sulphur content of marine fuels. In April 2005 a compromise agreement was reached between the Parliament and the Council.

While the amendments proposed by the Parliament would have reduced sulphur emissions by around 80 per cent (as compared to emission levels in 2000), the compromise was more in line with the Commission's original proposal, which is expected to deliver emission reductions of only around 10 per cent.

The directive (2005/33/EC) entered into force on 11 August 2005. Its first provisions, including the Baltic Sea and passenger vessel 1.5 per cent fuel sulphur limit, applies from 11 August 2006. The same fuel sulphur limit also applies for the North Sea, including the English Channel, as from 11 August 2007.

In addition, the directive requires all ships passing in European ports to use fuel with a sulphur content of 0.1% or less while at berth.

Article 7 of the directive requests the Commission to report in 2008 and to also consider submitting a proposal for amendment. Particular attention should be given to:

• a second stage of sulphur limit values laid down for each fuel category;
• the designation of additional SOx Emission Control Areas;
• the possible use of economic instruments;
• alternative or complementary measures.

The Commission has yet to complete this report, initially waiting for the adoption of new fuel sulphur standards by the IMO. With these new IMO standards completed in October 2008, the Commission is still expected to present a proposal to amend the EU directive. For that purpose, several consultancy studies have been prepared by the Environment Directorate-General, including a cost-benefit analysis.

NOx emission abatement
In its’ responses to the 2002 shipping strategy and the 2005 thematic strategy on air pollution, the Council and the Parliament expressed support for Community action to reduce NOx emissions from ships. Despite the fact that ships’ NOx emissions will continue to increase even with full implementation of the IMO’s new (2008) emission standards, no such proposals have yet been presented by the Commission.

Shore-side electricity
In May 2006, the Commission adopted the Recommendation on the promotion of shore-side electricity for use by ships at berth in EU ports. Shore-side electricity means providing electricity to ships at berth in ports from the national grid instead of ships producing electricity using their own diesel engines. This eliminates local air and noise emissions from ships' engines while at berth.

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Last modified: 26 October 2010.

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