The new International Maritime Organization (IMO) Low Sulphur Regulation will be effective from 1 January 2020 and will require all shipping companies to reduce their sulfur emissions by 85%.
This new regulation aims to reduce the environmental impact of the industry and significantly improve air quality, an initiative in which the CMA CGM Group has been involved for more than 15 years.
CMA CGM has decided:
- To favour the use of 0.5% fuel oil for its fleet.
- To invest significantly:
- By using LNG to power some of its future container ships (nine ships on order), notably resulting in a 99% reduction in sulfur emissions.
- By ordering several scrubbers for its ships.
All these measures represent a major additional cost estimated, based on current conditions, at an average of US$160/TEU (20 ft equivalent unit).
This additional cost will be taken into account through the application or adjustment of fuel surcharges on a trade-by-trade basis.
"The implementation of this new regulation, which represents a major environmental advance for our sector, will affect all players in the shipping industry. In line with its commitments, the Group will comply with the regulation issued by the IMO as from 1 January 2020. In this context, we will inevitably have to review our sales policy regarding fuel surcharges," explains Mathieu Friedberg, Senior Vice President Commercial Agencies Network.