Horizon announces conditional ECA waiver

Horizon Lines has announced it has received a permit providing a conditional waiver from the North American Emissions Control Area (ECA) fuel sulphur content requirements of MARPOL Annex VI regulation 14.4.

The permit is in force while Horizon pursues installation of exhaust gas cleaning system (EGCS) on each of its three D7-class vessels which operate in the Alaska trade. The permit was issued by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and became effective in 2015.

The permit will allow these Horizon vessels to use low-sulphur heavy fuel oil in their main engines while operating between Washington state and Alaska, subject to compliance with other terms and restrictions of the permit.  The company said it is committed to operating its vessels and terminals in accordance with all environmental regulations, and continuing to serve its customers in the most efficient and reliable means possible.