The UK government and shipping industry leaders have come out against EU moves to implement shore-side power for ships at berth, reports said. They are reportedly calling for UK ports and the shipping lines that use them to put up a united front against relying on cold ironing systems to cut air pollution.
According to UK Shipping Minister Jim Fitzpatrick, the government is determined to achieve a level playing field and not allow developments that would put UK ports and shipping at a competitive disadvantage. The UK government ultimately wants to ensure that the country's transport industry is not harmed by ill-conceived measures, he told a UK Ports and Shipping Forum. Speaking at the forum, Fitzpatrick said that the UK preferred to work through the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to lower ship emissions. But he warned that pressure for regional regulation will increase if progress at the IMO not fast enough. According to the head of ports at the Department for Transport, Richard Bennett, the government is looking for a response from industry about "what can and cannot be done" to reduce emissions from ships and ports. Bennett said that shore-side power was not the only way to attain government targets of cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) levels by 60% by 2050, and that workable solutions needed to be found. Maersk director of operations and planning for the UK and Ireland, Soren Friis, said Maersk Line is not a believer in cold ironing. Speaking at the same forum, Friis said that it would not be possible to find a single solution, such as shore-side power, that would be suitable for all ships on a global basis. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, pioneers in cold ironing solutions, have in fact found that cold ironing is not appropriate for ships that call only occasionally as they may not be fitted with the necessary equipment to make use of shore power. Cold ironing has been advocated in the Californian ports because they are close to large residential areas, but different solutions may be more appropriate in facilities that are some distance from towns and cities, said Bennett.
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