The Ministry of Climate and Environment has asked the Norwegian Maritime Authority to draw up a set of rules in order to reduce the pollution in Norwegian world heritage fjords. NCE Maritime CleanTech is amongst the actors who has given input to the new rules hearing.
– Some of the new rules proposed by the Norwegian Maritime Authority is a step forward but in many areas they are not ambitious enough. Stricter regulations are necessary to secure the cruise companies send their best ships to Norwegian waters. They are also necessary to accelerate technology development, which will benefit both the environment and the maritime industry, says NCE Maritime CleanTech CEO, Hege Økland.
In 2016, the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) was assigned by the Ministry of Climate and Environment the task of mapping environmentally harmful emissions and discharges in three of the world heritage fjords. In periods, the cruise traffic in the Nærøyfjord, Aurlandsfjord, Geirangerfjord, Synnulvsfjord and innermost part of the Tafjord causes emissions and discharges that are harmful to health and the environment. These fjords are on UNESCO’s World Heritage List and shall be given particular protection in accordance with the requirements of the international World Heritage Convention.
In spring 2018 the NMA announced a hearing for a set of new rules to reduces emissions of NOx, Sox, sewage and greywater. NCE Maritime CleanTech is one of the 47 actors that provided input to the hearing.
Zero emission in the fjords by 2026
In spring 2018 the Norwegian Parliament made a resolution to halt emissions from cruise ships and ferries as soon as technically possible ant in 2026 at the latest. Many of the actors providing input to the NMA questioned why this resolution is neither a basis for nor is reflected in the proposed rules set.
– The fact that the rules do not reflect the recent zero-emission resolution confuses the cruise industry. In our input we therefore urge the importance of the NMA immediately starting the work to define necessary measures to follow up the Parliament’s decision, says NCE Maritime CleanTech CEO, Hege Økland.
In the input sent to the NMA Maritime CleanTech also emphasised the need for national standards,
– The cruise traffic in Norway is growing and the ships become larger. Exhaust and emissions from these vessels is a major problem both in the Norwegian fjords and in the rest of the world. It is urgent that Norway now implements a national cruise strategy that secures less emissions and cleaner air and that avoids a build-up off cruise vessel in individual destinations, says Økland.
Read NCE Maritime CleanTech’s input for the new set of rules here.
In Norwegian only