EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF MARPOL SULFUR EMISSIONS CONTROL REGULATIONS ON EUROPEAN SHORT SEA SHIPPING

Short sea shipping industry of the European Union is a vital part of the European transportation networks. The present article analyses the recent trends in the development of European short sea shipping (SSS) and the economic impact of Annex VI of Marpol Convention regarding regulations on sulphur emission control. The IMO and the EU regulations related to sulphur emissions control have been studied in detail to outline the main issues concerning the feasibility of regulations compliance. The results from the empirical data analyses have shown that European SSS shipowners and operators have several alternatives in order to abide by these regulations. Compliance with regulations leads to higher operating costs that impede the competitiveness and further development of the industry.