Fresh call to clean up ‘dirty’ ships as Greens push bunker fuel petition

THE Greens are renewing a push to ban cheap bunker fuel being burned by cruise ships docking in Hobart saying the chemical is deadly.

Alderman Helen Burnet has launched a cruise ship emissions petition ahead of the start of the cruise ship season. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

THE Greens are renewing a push to ban cheap, heavy fuel oil – known as bunker fuel – being burned by cruise ships docking in Hobart, saying the chemical is deadly.

With the first cruise ship of the season to arrive in Hobart on Thursday, Greens Alderman Helen Burnet is calling for the city to have similar standards to those introduced in Sydney Harbour in 2016 where sulphur emissions are capped at 0.5 per cent.

“Today is the beginning of Hobart’s biggest cruise ship season and we have another increase in cruise ships coming to Hobart this season,” she said.

“The Government and Tas Ports continue inviting more and more cruise ships to our beautiful city, without any expectation that there will be an obligation for dirty bunker fuel not to be used.

“This comes at the cost of clean air in the vicinity of Evans St residents, visitors, businesses, the Arts School and five-star visitor accommodation.”

The Greens argue bunker fuel – the sludge at the bottom of a barrel of crude oil left after the refining process – can contain 3500 times more sulphur than standard diesel.

Ald Burnet’s petition calls on the State Government to request the Federal Government immediately ban the use of bunker fuels by cruise ships while they are docked in the Port of Hobart, limiting sulphur emissions to less than 0.08 per cent.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said immediate action to prevent cruise ships burning bunker fuel while in Tasmanian waters needed to be taken because the health of Hobartians was at stake.

Cruise ship Ovation of the Seas docked at Macquarie Wharf. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

The International Maritime Organisation estimates that burning bunker fuel causes 80,000 deaths a year worldwide. It is so toxic it has been banned within 200 nautical miles of ports in Europe and the US. It is also banned in Sydney Harbour.

Environment Minister Elise Archer said the Environment Protection Authority installed a monitoring station in the Hobart Port area last year, which measured ambient levels of sulphur dioxide, with levels able to be viewed by the public in real time.

“To date, sulphur dioxide levels recorded at the Hobart Port have been well below the relevant hourly and daily national standards,” she said.

Australia is a signatory to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, which sets limits on emissions of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen.

The international regulations, which set the limit for the sulphur content in diesel fuel oil, are expected to be reduced from 3.5 per cent to 0.5 per cent in 2020.

The petition is available to sign on the State Parliament website and closes on October 26. Sea Princess is due to dock in Hobart at 11am on Thursday before departing for Adelaide with more than 2400 passengers aboard.