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North Europe nations to cooperate on low sulphur enforcement

North Europe nations to cooperate on low sulphur enforcement
According to Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) a number of undisclosed North European states have agreed what it called a "musketeer oath" on enforcing low sulphur regulations in Emission Control Areas (ECAs).

Nations party to the deal have agreed to establish a “best practice” for regulation of ship sulphur emissions, including the implementation of a regional sulphur inspection and information campaign.

Further co-operation will include exchanges of information regarding suspected infringements, shared knowledge on new sampling and monitoring methods, and “closer political co-ordination” between sulphur legislatures “in regional and international fora”.

"The cooperation is to be considered a supplement to the formal cooperation on control within the framework of the EU and the Paris MoU," the DMA said. 

The deal is likely to address a number of concerns throughout the industry that no unified sulphur-policing body exists in Europe, typified by Danish Shipowners’ Association (DSA) chairman Carsten Mortensen recent remark that “if ships can continue sailing on traditional, sulphur-containing fuel at virtually no risk, and if the penalty for discovery is a fine that in no way matches the savings, some shipowners will find it hard to resist temptation.”