Trident Alliance Boosts Ranks

Fourteen more shipping companies have joined Trident Alliance,the shipping industry initiative for robust enforcement of maritime sulphur regulations, with some of Germany’s and Denmark’s prominent shipping companies joining its ranks together with new members from Chile, Greece, The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Belgium.

The latest addition, which includes among others Hapag Lloyd and DFDS, brings membership to a total of 31 companies. The member company CEO’s have each signed a Statement of Commitment, in which they commit to supporting robust and transparent enforcement of sulphur regulations as well as to comply with said regulations.

Roger Strevens, Chairman of Trident Alliance, said: “We are just a few weeks away from what will be a sea-change in the regulatory landscape for shipping, namely the introduction of the 0.1 % sulphur limits in ECA zones on 1 January 2015. It is reassuring to witness that so many companies want to make sure the new regulations are implemented in a way that ensures the expected environmental benefits as well as a level playing field.”

The Trident Alliance continues to participate in industry conferences, working groups and media outreach to realize its objective of raising awareness around the lack of enforcement of sulphur regulations and the entailing risk to human health, the environment and fair competition.

Among other, the Trident Alliance has been invited to present at a European Parliament event in Brussels on sulphur compliance on December 11. The meeting, entitled “Cutting air pollution from ships – Will ships comply? Will ports enforce new sulphur directive?” is hosted by Jytte Guteland, MEP.

“We welcome recent statements from the US Coast Guard and EPA, showing that they are taking coordinated action to step up enforcement activities to ensure compliance with the new requirements effective 1 Jan, 2015. The announced combination of checking bunker delivery notes, fuel oil sampling and in-the-field screening should be effective,” said Strevens.

Press Release