The proposed Emission Control Area (ECA) for North America will go into full effect on January 1, 2015, after a first stage that will go “live” on August 1, 2012.
The issue was a relevant topic during a dedicated ECA panel discussion at the 2012 Cruise Canada New England Symposium being held in Quebec City.
The rules, which require cruise lines to burn clean, more expensive fuel within 200 miles of the U.S. and Canadian coasts, have put a looming cloud over the Canada/New England region, with most itineraries sailed within that 200 mile range.
Greg Wirtz, president of North West and Canada Cruise Association described the ECA as a “serious issue facing the industry with enormous consequences.”
Cruise lines and industry groups continue to work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which is behind the new rules, but so far, nothing has been announced in terms of a solution for the cruise lines despite various proposed plans.
Bud Darr, vice president of technical and regulatory affairs for the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), pointed to a map of the North American ECA, which he said had major inconsistencies, with missing ECA zones around Alaska, and U.S. territories.
“I can’t make sense of that,” said Darr, pointing to part of Alaska that is not covered by the ECA and sees heavy shipping trade from the Pacific Rim.
Darr noted that CLIA is trying to work with the current rule set, and not “destroy” it. He listed alternatives, such as exhaust gas scrubbers, alternative fuels and non-conventional propulsion, averaging or other operational means, and “other means not yet identified.”
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