Canadian ECA enforcement expected next year
Transport Canada encourages vessels to voluntarily comply with ECA regulations in its waters, Ship & Bunker reports. Transport Canada has told Ship & Bunker that next year it expects to complete the regulatory process that will lead to the country's enforcement of the North American Emissions Control Area (ECA).
"The proposed Regulations Amending the Vessel Pollution and Dangerous Chemicals Regulations were published on July 21, 2012, and the official public comment period ended on October 4, 2012. Transport Canada is proceeding with approvals that follow the government's regulatory process, which requires Treasury Board approval," a spokesperson for Transport Canada said in an emailed statement responding to a request for comment.
In the meantime, Transport Canada said it encourages voluntarily compliance from vessels operating in its waters, which require the use of a marine fuel with a sulfur content not exceeding 1.00% by weight, "as this is part of an international measure implemented for ships trading in North America."
The U.S. has been enforcing the ECA since it came into effect on August 1, 2012, with Transport Canada already having said ahead of time that its enforcement would be "delayed by a few months" as "significant additional discussions" were required.
Transport Canada told Ship & bunker that a key issue for implementation of the ECA regulations has been availability of compliant fuel.
"Transport Canada understands that some ports face challenges with this requirement," the spokesperson said.
In October a barge fully loaded with low sulfur bunkers was towed some 500 nautical miles from New York to the Canadian port of Halifax, Nova Scotia in order to fuel two tankers due to a lack of low sulfur product at the port.
