Ferries between Finland and Estonia pollute more than those to Sweden

Sweden subsidises use of cleaner fuel

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Passenger ferries sailing between Finland and Sweden use less-polluting fuel compared with the vessels owned by the same companies trafficking between Finland and Estonia. When sailing through Swedish territorial waters, it is more economical to use fuel oil with lower sulphur emissions. This is because the Swedish government encourages the use of environmentally-friendlier fuels through subsidies.
      The Åland-based shipping company Eckerö Line, uses fuel with a 1.5 per cent sulphur content, which is permissible in the Baltic Sea, when trafficking between Helsinki and Tallinn. The vessels owned by the same company sailing between the Åland Islands and Sweden, however, use fuel with a sulphur content of only 0.2 per cent, which is clearly under the limit.
      "Sweden subsidises the use of fuel with less sulphur, so it is worthwhile", explains Bo-Gustav Donning, safety and environmental manager at Eckerö Line.
     
Even Silja Line, now owned by the Estonian Tallink Group, uses fuel with a sulphur content of only 0.5 percent in its ships operating between Finland and Sweden. Tallink has decided to continue this practice, despite claims to the contrary presented earlier this week by the Swedish TV4 newscast.
      Between Finland and Estonia, Tallink-owned vessels use fuel with a maximum sulphur content of one per cent, Tallink Group financial director Janek Stalmeister says.
      Fuels with lower sulphur content are also available for the routes between Finland and Estonia. However, the competition between the operators is fierce. The lower the sulphur content of the fuel, the more it costs.
     
Yesterday, for example, a ton of fuel with a sulphur content of 0.5 percent cost USD 50 more than a ton of one-percent fuel.
      "There is some fluctuation to this difference, but the fuel with a higher sulphur content is always more affordable", Stalmeister points out.
      The most fuel is consumed by the hydrofoils and other high-speed passenger ferries. Between Helsinki and Tallinn, the Tallink express ferries only use fuel with the low 0.2-per cent sulphur content.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Tallink ships still discharging sewage into Baltic Sea (14.11.2005)

Links:
  Tallink
  Eckerö Line

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