Antwerp Port Authority and the Port of Rotterdam Authority want to see stricter nitrogen oxides emission standards for new built vessels on the North Sea and English Channel from 1 January 2016.
The two largest ports in Europe do not support a proposal to postpone this already agreed upon regulation by five years.
At the beginning of April, the environment committee of the International Maritime Organization (an United Nations agency) will discuss this proposal.
Ships’ engines which comply with the new standards emit 80% less nitrogen oxides than the current built vessels.
Reducing the emissions from shipping to improve air quality is in line with the sustainability policy of the two port authorities.
[mappress] March 12, 2014