Hong Kong ship owners fume over emission plans

Hong Kong ship owners fume over emission plans    The Hong Kong Shipowners Association has refuted claims that it is not working whole-heartedly toward reduce the shipping industry's greenhouse gas emissions.
   In a statement Wednesday, the HKSOA said, 'There is no vacillation in this process, only the firm and urgent intent by many in the industry to find consensus on an element of a scheme that meets the reality of the global shipping industry.'
   The statement appeared to be in response to comments last week by officials at the U.K. Chamber of Shipping, who (along with ship owner associations in Australia, Belgium, Norway and Sweden) called for a carbon-trading scheme to be introduced in the industry.
   U.K. Chamber of Shipping President Jesper Kjaedegaard told Reuters that others shipping associations and nations had other approaches to the problem.

Kjaedegaard

   “We can no longer take an ostrich approach,' Kjaedegaard told Reuters. 'We have to be part of the solution.'
   The Hong Kong Shipowners Association said the U.K. chamber didn't represent the majority of the international shipping industry and that a more appropriate arena to develop such schemes is through the International Chamber of Shipping.
   'Theirs is but one proposal, although not as developed as others,' the statement said. 'We continue to be willing to discuss our and other's proposals within the industry, so that we are all able to develop our thoughts and find industry consensus on these complex and urgent issues.'
   HKSOA favors a proposal by the Danish Maritime Authority for a pollution compensation fund over any cap-and-trade emissions scheme. The trading scheme is thought to be more complex to administer, with proponents of the compensation fund arguing the shipping industry has characteristics that don't necessarily mesh with such a concept.
   The trading scheme presented by the United Kingdom would have two potential options:
   ' The industry as a whole would receive a certain number of credits to use.
   ' Credits would be based on the amount of bunker fuel sold to shipping lines.