SINGAPORE — The global shipping industry is bracing for a key regulatory decision that could mark a milestone in reducing maritime pollution, but that could nearly double fuel costs in a sector already reeling from its worst downturn in decades.The shipping industry is by far the biggest emitter of sulphur, with the sulphur oxides content in heavy fuel oil up to 3,500 times higher than the latest European diesel standards for vehicles.To combat such pollution, the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO’s) marine environment protection committee will meet in London on October 24-28 to decide whether to impose a global cap on sulphur oxide emissions from 2020 or 2025, which would see sulphur emissions fall from the current maximum of 3.5% of fuel content to 0.5%."One large vessel in one day can emit more sulphur dioxide than all the new cars that come onto the world’s roads in a year," said Thomas Koniordos, the head of business line environmental solutions at Norway’s Yara Intern...
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