The European Commission’s (EC) proposals to cut shipping fuel sulphur content on short sea routes in northern European waters come into effect from 2015, but how far advanced are ro-ro operators in adopting the changes? With energy consumption, emissions and environmental regulation all high on the agenda at this year’s RORO event in Gothenburg this May, the planning starts now.

With so many different laws affecting them around the world, the challenge facing shipping lines is identifying just how they implement changes to their operations. To help businesses prepare for some of the biggest developments in their history, representatives from the Port of Gothenburg, Scandlines Deutschland, NORTH SEA RoRo, DFDS, Stena RoRo and Wallenius Wilhelmsen have been announced as key speakers at the free-to-attend RORO Conference.

Sara Skold, Environmental Specialist at the Clean Shipping Project, who works with cargo owners such as Volvo and Philips, is one of the key speakers in the Green Ro-ro session on 23 May. She commented: “Cargo owners are now looking at the performance of their entire supply chain. The EC’s proposals are the first step in improving the ‘green’ image of the shipping industry and ro-ro operators must start investigating new, environmentally friendly ways of running their businesses. If they don’t then they will risk losing out to their competitors.”

During her presentation, Sara will discuss the work of the Clean Shipping Index, which allows shipping lines to showcase their fleet’s ‘green’ credentials and enables cargo owners to pick the most environmentally friendly operator.

Sara will be joined in the Green Ro-ro session by Äsa Wilske, Environment Manager at the Port of Gothenburg and Tom Mackay, Co-Chair of IMarEST BW Expert Group. They will each offer their own perspectives on environmental legislations, dual fuel options, reducing energy consumption and environmental ballast water regulation.

Äsa Wilske is set to discuss the emergence of onshore power supply. She said: “Onshore power supply reduces emissions and noise for people who work in and live near the port area. It’s undoubtedly a valid alternative to running engines to provide power whilst at dock, which will in-turn reduce a terminal’s carbon footprint. As one of the leading ro-ro ports in Europe, we are looking at a variety of ways to reduce our impact on the environment. At RORO, I’ll be highlighting just what the industry can expect from us over the coming years.”

Additionally, in a special session on 22 May 2012, key speakers, including Arild Iversen, CEO of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, will offer their perspectives on fuels and cleaning solutions. Visitors will be able to hear presentations on key areas such as the introduction of Emission Control Areas, whether there will be enough low-sulphur fuel available by 2015 and whether scrubbers are a sustainable solution for the ro-ro industry.

However, the event will go beyond the ‘green’ issues, ensuring that visitors get a full view of the ro-ro industry. On 22 May, Dr Gernot Tesch, Managing Director at Scandlines Deutschland, and Lennart Svensson, Executive Vice-President – Port and Logistics at TTS Group ASA, will discuss the current and future requirements of ro-ro shipping lines.

The three-day event will feature presentations from a host of industry leaders, who will offer terminal operators, shipping lines, automobile manufacturers and logistics providers a unique insight into regional markets, port infrastructure, ‘green’ ro-ro and other transport markets.