[轉貼]Low sulphur fuel

Low sulphur fuel Lloyds List reports that limiting the sulphur content of marine fuels to 1.5% in 2006 and 2007 in designated areas of Europe could lead to a shortage of low sulphur fuel. From 19 May this year, with the entry into Annex VI of MARPOL, the sulphur content of marine fuel will be limited to 4.5%. However, in two designated SOx Emission Control Areas (SECA) in Europe, lower limits will come into force in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Sulphur content of marine fuel will be limited to 1.5% in the Baltic Sea area from 19 May 2006 and the North Sea and English Channel from November 2007. At present, less than 4% of marine fuels have less than 1.5% sulphur content. Availability will have to be increased to meet SECA demands. Such increased output of low-sulphur fuels can be achieved through refining naturally occurring low-sulphur crude oils, blending in-land grade fuel oil, re-blending of residual fuel oils down to the required specification and the "scrubbing" of the emissions to reduce the level of sulphur contained therein. DNV has said that these processes would increase the price of low-sulphur fuel oils by US$25 to US$100 per tonne, depending on the method used and market demand.