The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said Monday it is working with Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Maritime Institute and ClassNK in a bid to boost development of eco-friendly maritime technologies in the city state.
Speaking at the launch of Southeast Asia's first Maritime Energy Test Bed facility, MPA Chief Executive Andrew Tan said: "The first step we have to cross is 0.5% [sulfur requirement]...the METB will certainly be part of the efforts."
Legislation from the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships -- more commonly referred to as MARPOL -- set up by the International Maritime Organization enforces the use of 0.1% sulfur bunker fuel in Emission Control Areas.
This stringent requirement is imposed across the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, including the English Channel, and within 200 nautical miles of North American shores and US Caribbean Emission Control Area.
Outside of these areas, shipowners may still burn 3.5% sulfur bunker fuel.
IMO has revised MARPOL's Annex VI to impel even further cuts to global sulfur emissions from ships, reducing the current 3.5% level to 0.5% from January 2020, subject to a feasibility review to be completed no later than 2018.
Tan noted that economic development across the world is not equal and one of the key issues that has emerged to reach the IMO goal is "enforceability".
Just last week, the California Air Resources Board found that contamination between high-sulfur bunker fuel and ultra-low sulfur fuels within ship engine infrastructure is leading to sulfur emissions cap violations, Platts reported earlier.
IMO will participate in the UN Climate Change Conference November 30 in Paris to further address greenhouse gas emissions from bunker fuels.
"The earlier the completion of the review will give some clarity and certainty to the [maritime] industry," Tan said.
The S$8 million ($5.7 million) METB facility will include advanced filters called scrubbers, a device that curbs harmful ship emissions. The advance system can fully accommodate fuel oil with 3% sulfur or less.
