APL to use low sulfur fuel in Singapore

APL to use low sulfur fuel in Singapore    NOL said all vessels of APL's fleet calling in Singapore would use low sulfur fuel at berth.
   The company said the decision is expected to curb sulfur oxides emissions from ships by almost 90 percent. Ash and particulate matter emissions could be reduced by 80 percent to 90 percent.
   'We are proud to be the first container shipping line to convert to cleaner-burning fuel here,' said Eng Aik Meng, president of APL. 'As Singapore's largest carrier, we feel a responsibility to manage the environmental impact of global trade.'

Meng

   All 80 APL vessels calling in Singapore will start converting to marine gas oil at berth Wednesday. The ships make more than 900 port calls in Singapore annually.
   APL's switch to cleaner-burning fuel beats a deadline set by the International Maritime Organization. The deadline, adopted by Singapore, calls for reducing the sulfur content of marine fuel to 3.5 percent in 2012; and 0.5 percent in 2020. Marine gas oil, which APL will use in Singapore, has an average sulfur content of 0.25 percent.
   APL began its voluntary fuel-switching program in Los Angeles and Seattle in 2007. The shipping line has since extended the program to Vancouver, Hong Kong, New York and New Jersey.