On 16 February, the European Parliament Environment Committee will debate a proposal for a European directive aiming at adapting a European legislation on sulphur emissions to the stronger IMP regulations concerning the reduction of sulphur limits in marine fuels as from 1 January 2015 in SECAs. The Committee will also discuss the report on this issue by EP Rapporteur Ms Satu Hassi.
Mr Jochen Schulte, Chairman of the BSPC WG on Integrated Maritime Policy in 2009-2011, has directed a letter to Ms Hassi, drawing the attention of the European parliamentarians to the concerns of the WG members regarding possible competitive disadvantages for Baltic Sea shipping. He points out, i.a., the necessity of accompanying measures in order to, on the one hand, prevent an unwanted traffic shift from sea to land transport and, on the other hand, facilitate the transition to low-sulphur fuels and ship propulsion systems.