Council calls for ship fuel limits

THE Hobart City Council will call on the Federal Government to issue the same fuel restrictions for cruise ships when they are berthed in Hobart that are in place in Sydney Harbour.

Hobart aldermen agreed last night to adopt a motion by Ald Helen Burnet to request the Government apply an upper limit of 0.1 per cent for fuel-oil sulphur content for bunker fuel while cruise ships are berthed in the state capital’s waters.

The current limit in Hobart is up to 3.5 per cent.

Last year Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester instructed the 0.1 per cent cap be applied to vessels in the Sydney Harbour.

Ald Burnet said the same was needed for Hobart — and quickly.

“This year we are having a doubling of cruise ships in our port,” she said.

“There is a considerable amount of bunker fuel that could be burnt.”

Ald Tanya Denison and Ald Marti Zucco both argued the council didn’t have evidence to back up its request to Mr Chester’s office, but the council passed the motion 8-3.

Ald Damon Thomas said the council should try.

“The reality is quite clear. The minister will receive this letter and call for a review,” he said.

“There is nothing wrong with us asking.”