In 2018, the Norwegian parliament resolved to require ships to sail emission-free in its UNESCO-protected fjords by 2026. Maritime CleanTech warns against watering down the ambition in the final heat.
After years of uncertainty and debate, the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) submitted its updated legislative proposal to the Ministry of Climate and Environment in December.
The proposal includes a ten-year transition period before the planned zero-emission requirement would take full effect for all ships. The intention is to ensure continued cruise traffic in the affected ports.
Two alternatives for the transition period are suggested. In one alternative, passenger ships larger than 9,999 GT would be allowed to use biogas until the end of 2035. In the other alternative, which NMA recommends, a wider range of qualified fuels would be allowed, including biodiesel.
Read more on NMA’s web page: Facilitating zero emissions and cruise traffic in world heritage fjords – Norwegian Maritime Authority (sdir.no)
Warns against delays in green investments
In the public hearing and in the media, Maritime CleanTech has argued that the proposed transition arrangements are both too lax and too long, disincentivising green maritime innovation.
“We are very disappointed. This means a 12-year waiting period,” says Håvard Tvedte, director of communications and public relations at Maritime CleanTech.
“The proposal effectively hinders investments in true zero-emission solutions. The parliamentary resolution on zero emissions in the World Heritage fjords by 2026 was made in 2018. This has been well-known in the industry. The fact that it has taken more than five years to formulate the requirement has caused major delays in getting the infrastructure in place.”
Tvedte points out that forward-leaning actors in the maritime industry have already positioned themselves to be able to deliver zero-emission solutions in time for the 2026 requirements.
“They are now being punished in the extra time. The government aims to ensure a significant development of infrastructure for climate-friendly ship transport by 2025. They must not change course now. The maritime industry and the renewable industry must be able to rely on the conditions that have been adopted for the green transition.”
Encourages the government to tighten regulations
The Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment will now process the proposal from the NMA and make its final decision on the new regulations that will take effect in 2026.
“We hope the government follows through on the intention behind the parliamentary resolution on zero emissions in the world heritage fjords. This entails tightening the transition period. At the same time, there should be an incentive for shipowners to achieve zero emissions early through, for example, climate-differentiated fees and priority in ports.”
See also the media reports (in Norwegian):
Går vekk fra nullutslipp-krav: Godtar biodiesel på cruiseskip – Tu.no