New Zealand will sign up to new international maritime regulations to reduce ship emissions and lift air quality around ports and harbours, associate transport minister Julie Anne Genter says.
The Annex VI of MARPOL is an International Maritime convention for the prevention of pollution from ships.
Global energy consultancy group Wood Mackenzie has predicted the IMO 2020 cap could cost the global shipping industry US$60 billion annually as a result of higher crude prices and tight availability of alternative fuels.
Genter says joining this convention “will improve the health and environmental impact of shipping emissions, particularly around our port communities”.
“It will give Maritime NZ the power to inspect foreign ships for compliance with new emission standards and take enforcement action if necessary.
“Signing up will also ensure New Zealand has a seat at the table as new global greenhouse gas emission maritime regulations are negotiated over the next few years.”
The convention’s regulations on limiting sulphur emissions from shipping are due to come into force on January 1, 2020.
There will be a longer lead in time before the regulations apply to domestic ships, Genter says.
“The treaty examination process means that New Zealand would sign up to Annex VI in late 2021.
“Stricter sulphur limits would then apply to domestic ships from early 2022. This gives our shipping and fishing industries sufficient time to prepare for the new regulations.
“This gives our shipping and fishing industries sufficient time to prepare for the new regulations,” Genter says.
