A new coalition of ship owners and operators has been officially launched to collaborate on the enforcement of forthcoming maritime sulphur emission regulations. Called the Trident Alliance, its membership has started with 11 companies, including a number that provide automotive ro-ro services, such as ARC, Eukor Car Carriers, Höegh Autoliners, UECC and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL). More members are expected to be announced soon.
The Alliance said it will partner with other groups who share its interest in enforcement of the regulations, which come in to effect at the beginning of 2015 and were first prescribed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
The official launch follows a recent meeting held in Copenhagen, hosted by Maersk and WWL.
“Robust enforcement of sulphur regulation is needed for health and the environment and, from the perspective of maintaining a level playing field, it is a business imperative,” said Roger Strevens, vice-president, Environment at WWL, who has been elected chairman of The Trident Alliance. “Already during its formation the Trident Alliance has raised awareness of the current shortcomings of enforcement and related consequences, particularly in the European ECA. Now our work starts in earnest.”
CEOs of the companies involved have each signed a statement of commitment to support the enforcement of the sulphur regulations as well as to comply with them. The Alliance said that the main focus will be on communication to raise awareness of the issue, supported by member companies’ transparency on compliance, as well as on initiatives to foster innovation in enforcement technology.
The current membership list includes:
• American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier (ARC)
• EUKOR Car Carriers Inc.
• Höegh Autoliners
• J. Lauritzen
• Maersk
• Rickmers-Linie
• Stena
• Torvald Klaveness
• UECC
• Unifeeder
• Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics
