European Parliament backs tougher marine fuel rules

摘要

The European Parliament has voted for stringent sulfur limits in marine fuels used in vessels plying European waters, seeking much tougher limits than those originally proposed by a European Commission's draft directive. In a first-reading vote in Strasbourg last week, European Union politicians agreed to require shipowners to use bunkers or marine gasoil with less than 1.5% sulfur, or 150 parts/million, within six months of approval and then 0.5% sulfur marine fuels by 2009.