Announced in October 2010, the Fair Winds Charter (FWC) is an industry-led, voluntary, unsubsidized fuel switch programme for ocean-going vessels calling at Hong Kong. This is the first initiative of its kind in Asia, and the first unsubsidized voluntary fuel switch in the world.
Please click here to download the Fair Winds Charter
So far, 15 shipping lines, 2 cruise lines and 1 autoliner are using fuel of 0.5% sulphur content or less “to the maximum extent possible” while at berth in Hong Kong from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2012. They call on the Hong Kong and Guangdong governments to work together to regulate emissions from ships across the Pearl River Delta region. Maersk and APL began this fuel switch in September and October 2010, respectively. If all of these shipping lines’ ships calling at Hong Kong switch to the cleanest type of fuel available (0.1%), SO2 emissions would drop by 80% from the shipping industry.
The FWC was initially proposed during a “Green Harbours” meeting, convened and facilitated by Civic Exchange. Civic Exchange has been hosting “Green Harbours” meetings since 2007. These events bring together stakeholders from the port and shipping communities, including government representatives, fuel providers, and academics to discuss ways to reduce the impact of their operations.
On 23 November 2010, His Royal Highness Prince Joachim of Denmark visited Maersk vessel Salalah while it is at berth in Hong Kong. HRH performed the actual Fuel Switch on Salalah Maersk and took a guided tour of the vessel.
Fuel Switch Demonstration on Maersk vessel Salalah on 23 November 2010:
Press Release:
02 Feb 2012 – Civic Exchange welcomes 2012-13 Budget incentive to reduce marine emissions (By Civic Exchange)
02 Nov 2010 – OOCL confirms use of low sulphur fuel in Hong Kong Port (By OOCL)
05 Oct 2010 – APL volunteers to clear the air over Hong Kong (By APL)
07 Sept 2010 – Maersk Line launches Asia’s first fuel switch programme (By Maersk Line)
07 Sept 2010 – First fuel switch for cleaner air in Asia (By Maersk Line)
Media coverage – 2012 Budget supporting the Fair Winds Charter:
26 Mar 2012 - Wall Street Journal – Clean Up Effort for Hong Kong Port Hits Rocks
06 Feb 2012 – TVB Pearl Report – Toxic pollutants from Ocean-going vessels
03 Feb 2012 – HKSMB – 香港中小企營商網 – 2012-13年政府財政預算案–產業發展 (Chinese only)
02 Feb 2012 - WenWei Po – 船舶用低硫燃油 港口設施費可減半 (Chinese only)
02 Feb 2012 - Sing Pao – 未忘環保 擬推出有機資源回收中心 (Chinese only)
02 Feb 2012 - Ta Kung Pao – 停港低硫燃油遠洋船 獲寬減設施及燈標費 (Chinese only)
01 Feb 2012 - Government press release - Budget Speech by the Financial Secretary (6)
01 Feb 2012 - Ta Kung Pao – 曾俊華: 把握港競爭優勢 推經濟發展 (Chinese only)
01 Feb 2012 - Hong Kong Economic Journal – 【預算案】正研第三跑道建議 探討發展十號碼頭 (Chinese only)
Media coverage for the fuel switch demonstration on 23 November 2010:
08 Sept 2011 – Maersk Line website – Maersk Line celebrates one year of cleaner air in Hong
20 Jun 2011 – www.bunkerworld.com – Key Asian port urged to cut ship-generated SO2 emissions
16 Jun 2011 – South China Morning Post – Container ship health risk ‘ignored’
04 Jan 2011 – Hong Kong Economic Times – 航運帶頭減排 港府宜速配合 (Chinese only)
18 Feb 2011 – South China Morning Post – Maritime emissions raise concern
19 Dec 2010 – Wall Street Journal – Tackling Pollution at the Ports
12 Dec 2010 – ATV News (Cantonese TV programme)
30 Nov 2010 – New York Times – To Clear Up Air Quality, Hong Kong Looks to the Sea
25 Nov 2010 – Bunkerworld News – Shipping firms commit to fuel switch in Hong Kong
24 Nov 2010 – The Standard – Vessels on wave of cleaner fuel
24 Nov 2010 – Ming Pao – 17船公司轉用低硫柴油靠港 (Chinese only)
24 Nov 2010 – Ta Kung Pao – 貨輪低硫油港區試行兩年 政府牽頭推動航運業走向環保 (Chinese only)
24 Nov 2010 – Oriental Daily News – 貨船轉用低硫燃料 減污染維港 (Chinese only)
24 Nov 2010 – The Sun – 政情：丹麥王子參觀環保貨船 (Chinese only)
24 Nov 2010 – Hong Kong Economic Times – 輪船轉用環保油 減8成污染 (Chinese only)
Other media coverage:
Jan 2011 – Asian Conversation - In the greening of our seas speed is of the essence
29 Nov 2011 - Hong Kong Economic Times - 一流城市九流空氣 粵港要爭氣 (Chinese only)
04 Nov 2011 – Baird Maritime – OOCL to use low sulphur fuel in Hong Kong Port
08 Sept 2010 - Ta Kung Pao - 馬士基入港船用低硫燃油 可減少八成雜質排放量 (Chinese only)
08 Sept 2010 – Fruitnet.com – Maersk Line makes Hong Kong fuel switch
07 Sept 2010 – CNN – Ship firm floats plan to cut Hong Kong smog
07 Sept 2010 – Maersk Line website – Maersk Line launches Asia’s first fuel switch programme
07 Sept 2010 – New York Times – Danish Shipping Giant to Switch to Cleaner Fuel When in Hong Kong
01 Aug 2010 – RTHK-TV programme 鏗鏘集 - 屏息以待 (Cantonese TV programme)
Important reference:
08 Apr 2011 – Stakeholder (Local Craft) Workshop Report
17 June 2010 – Stakeholder Workshop Summary Report
29 Sept 2009 – Stakeholder Workshop Summary Report
June 2008 – Research Article – Green Harbours: Hong Kong & Shenzhen