APL Ships to Burn Low-Sulfur Fuel in Singapore

The NOL Group is extending its low-sulfur emissions program to the Port of Singapore, where it is based.

All ships operated by APL will start using cleaner-burning, low-sulfur gas oil while they are in Singapore, NOL said Tuesday.

All 80 APL vessels calling Singapore will start converting to marine gas oil at berth on Wednesday.

By The Numbers: APL Average Revenue Per FEU

APL ships make more than 900 port calls in Singapore annually.

The move is expected to curb sulfur oxides emissions from APL ships by almost 90 percent. Sulfur oxides are considered a key component of acid rain. Emissions of ash and particulate matter emissions could be reduced by 80 percent to 90 percent.

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.

Marine gas oil is more expensive than standard marine fuel, APL said, but better for the environment.

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.

-- Contact Peter T. Leach at pleach@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeterTLeach.