Shipping costs likely to rise as new clean-air rules kick in for vessels on January 1
Shipping costs likely to rise as new clean-air rules kick in for vessels on January 1
Within days, new shipping emissions rules from a United Nations agency will kick in, requiring vessels around the world to cut sulfur pollution by 85%. Most analysts agree the regulation will result in higher shipping costs for consumers.
Shipping companies have several choices to comply: to purchase expensive onboard equipment to reduce emissions; to burn natural gas; or to purchase cleaner, pricier fuel. Research suggests most of the industry will choose the latter option.
“Your fuel costs are probably going to be 50 to 60% higher,” said Jamie Webster, oil analyst at the Boston Consulting Group and fellow at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy. “Obviously, shippers are going to be interested in trying to pass those costs on until it gets down to those of us at the consumer level.”
How much costs will go up is up for debate. A single flat-screen television may cost less than a dollar more to ship, according to one industry estimate. But a week-long cruise may run an additional $150.
Another area of impact: diesel prices. Clean fuel for shipping contains diesel as a main ingredient, so shipping companies will soon be competing against other diesel users: railroads, trucking companies and delivery firms such as UPS and FedEx. According to one estimate, diesel costs could rise a dollar a gallon.
Industry projections assume the world’s 59,000 ships –– oil tankers, container ships and bulk carriers –– will actually comply with the new rules.
“There’s a big question about how much cheating will be involved –– there will certainly be some,” said Rusty Braziel, president of consultancy RBN Energy. “There’s no police force out there enforcing all of this. It’s being essentially enforced by companies that fuel these ships.”
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
