The mostly used fuel for ocean ships (so called "Bunker") is a heavy heating oil which is gained as residue from crude oil distillation. Crude oil contains sulfur which after combustion in the ship’s motor produces emissions. Sulfur oxides (SOx) are damaging to human health, causing respiratory ailments and lung diseases. In the atmosphere SOx can lead to acid rain, can damage plants, forests and water and contributes to acidification of the ocean. It must therefore be attempted to reduce these SOx emissions of ships and thereby improve air quality and better protect the environment.

Concretely this means: from January 1, 2020 the limits for sulfur in crude oil which will be used on board the ships that travel outside of the identified emission control areas will be reduced to 0,50 % m/m (mass per mass). Either the ships as from 2020 will be tanked with low sulfur fuel or they will be furnished themselves with an exhaust gas cleaner, so-called «Scrubbers» on the ship.

This Scrubber comes in three forms: "Closed Loop Filter" (exhaust gases are cleaned and the pollutants are gathered in a tank which is emptied in the harbor for corresponding additional handling), "Open Loop Filter" (exhaust gases are cleaned and the cleaning water together with the pollutants contained therein are discharged into the sea) and "Hybrid Filter“ (that can be adjusted either for operation in an open or closed loop).

Seen as a whole, the most environmentally friendly form is the Closed Loop because such systems do not emit either in the atmosphere nor in the water provided the waste is treated after collection in the harbors. The Open Loop Filter indeed fulfills the requirements of the sulfur guidelines and reduces the emissions from shipping in the atmosphere, its use leads however to heavy metals, sulfur, etc. which land in the sea together with the cleaning water. China, Hong Kong and Singapore have already set forth that no ships with Open Loop Filter systems on board will be allowed in their harbors. It can be assumed from this that other Southeast Asian countries and Japan will likewise follow.

Whether it is equipping ships with filters or the use of low sulfur fuel: in both cases the operating costs for environmental protection will increase significantly. Therefore it has already been clearly signaled by the shipping companies that the introduction of surcharges at the latest from the time of tanking with low sulfur fuel (meaning: already 60 to 90 days before the key date of January 1, 2020) are unavoidable in order to cushion the impact of the additional costs arising which will make the entire transport by sea more expensive as from 2020. Several shipping companies have announced increasing their surcharges already before the key date of January 1, 2020 because they already have higher operational costs in 2019 due to the adjustments.

Due to the re-equipping of ships, first of all the short-term overall capacity on the world seas will be decreased because the installing of Scrubbers will take approx. 60 days per ship. In addition and in the long run the loading capacities of ships after the re-equipping will be smaller than before the adjustments because both the Scrubber and the Low Sulfur Tanks require more space on the ships.

Many experts assume the following consequences from the IMO2020 regulation: Increased use of slow steaming will lead to the increase of the range of ships. In order to be able to preserve the transit times at key harbors and therefore remain competitive, the shipping companies could be forced to leave out individual harbors from their fixed routes.

Additional information can be found directly at IMO.
 

Text source: SPEDLOGSWISS

In November 2018 all of our operationally active employees throughout Switzerland were made familiar with the innovations - Lamprecht is also top in the transport of dangerous goods!

Naturally, your contact at Lamprecht Transport Ltd. will be happy to provide you with detailed information about these new and ever more complex regulations.

The past years

We look back on exciting, fruitful and fulfilling years in the field of airfreight. Ever since the founding of our freight forwarding business we have been transporting consolidated air freight weekly to the world-famous metropolises of India, to Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore or Hyderabad. Contact with the subcontinent has always been close to our hearts, not only for economic reasons but because we have come to appreciate and love the region.

India is an up-and-coming country with a growing economy and an array of interesting business areas. The Indian market is becoming more and more attractive. This is reflected not least in the growth of economic contacts between India and Switzerland. It matters not whether it is to do with the import or export of goods, India bodes well with excellent opportunities for the international sales of products and exotic quality goods for import. We at Lamprecht Transport Ltd. are your contact for the Indian market.

Professional air freight service between Switzerland and India

Are you looking for an expert in the field of air freight, one with years of experience and an excellent network of agents at the destination? Would you like to gain a foothold in the Indian market with your product?

We would be honoured to convey your next shipment to or from India. Should you be interested in a cooperation, please contact us. Our air freight departments in Basel, Zurich, St. Gallen and Geneva will process your inquiry and be pleased to present you with a customised offer.

Our seasoned door-to-door service ensures that, after customs clearance, your LCL shipments are delivered on time to the economic metropoles of the south and to the conurbations around New York on the east coast.

Benefit from our many years of know-how and test our LCL service to New York and Charleston. Our sea freight departments in Basel, Embrach-Zurich and St. Gallen will be pleased to inform you in detail.

This stricter emissions regulation will come along with significant additional costs for the ocean carriers. For this reason, Hapag-Lloyd has developed the so-called Marine Fuel Recovery (MFR) mechanism, which will be gradually implemented starting on 1st January, 2019. For additional information…

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