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As part of Maersk Line’s drive to cut sulphur emissions from its fleet towards zero, the shipping line said it is expanding its fuel switch programme to include New Zealand.

In a move that is a first for the industry, Maersk Line will be applying its fuel switch programme to an entire country, where all nine ports of call in New Zealand and their respective coastal societies will benefit from the new policy.

"Switching from bunker to low sulphur fuel in New Zealand reduces sulphur to the air by 80-95 percent in port. The reduction is in this case nine-fold," Maersk said.

“Most New Zealand ports are in or very near major urban areas. The SOx reduction will positively impact the public health and local environment” commented Julian Bevis, Managing Director for Maersk Line, New Zealand.

To improve the air quality around ports, Maersk Line’s sustainability strategy pledges to reduce SOx emissions significantly with a drive towards ‘zero’. The shipping line has committed itself to implementing fuel switch programmes at at least 10 global locations by 2015.

“Sulphur is a major problem for our industry. We are concerned with the health impacts of repeated, long-term airborne exposure to SOx, in particular for people living close to busy ports” said Jacob Sterling, Head of Climate & Environment, Maersk Line.

Maersk Line pioneered voluntary fuel switching in California in 2006, and has steadily extended the programme to other regions, including ports in Texas, Hong Kong and the US Pacific Northwest.

“While sulphur emissions from motor vehicles and industrial processes have reduced over the years, there are still improvements to be made. We are very pleased that Maersk Line vessels will now be burning low-sulphur fuel when they are in port, and we hope other lines will follow their lead,” said Councillor Wayne Walker, Chair of the Auckland Council’s Environment and Sustainability Forum.

Global kiwifruit producer ZESPRIM also welcomed the initiative. "This focus on improved sustainability fits well with our own commitment to environmental best practice across our whole supply chain" said Mike Knowles, Shipping Manager, ZESPRI International Limited.