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.

The strategy contains a broad series of objectives, proposed actions and recommendations for bringing about such reductions over the next ten years.

Sulphur in marine fuels

As part of the strategy the Commission published a proposal for reducing the sulphur content of marine fuels.

The proposed directive (COM (2002) 595 final) was first considered by the European Parliament in June 2003, after which the Council of Ministers reached their common position in June 2004. At the time of the second reading in the Parliament – 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 is 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 applies also for the North Sea, including the English Channel, as from 11 August 2007.

According to a cost-benefit analysis by the Swedish NGO Secretariat on Acid Rain (see below) it is profitable to reduce sulphur content in marine fuels down to 0.5 per cent or lower.

NOx emission standards
In its’ response to the 2002 shipping strategy, the EU Council of Ministers invited the Commission to consider a proposal for tighter NOx standards by the end of 2006 if IMO has not made any proposals for tighter standards by that date.

This concern was repeated in 2006, when both the Council and the Parliament in their responses to the 2005 Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution, expressed support for further Community action to reduce NOx emissions from ships. So far, however, no such proposals have 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: 18 March 2008.