Norway: Wilhelmsen Ships Service is taking up an initiative to highlight the mandatory requirement for the phase-out of virgin HCFC (hydro chlorofluorocarbon) refrigerants, the most commonly used being R-22.The EU phase-out means that it will be prohibited to top up refrigeration systems on board EU-flagged vessels using virgin HCFCs after January 1, 2010.
"We are working closely with our customers to maximise awareness of the regulation, advising them of the company's change-over solution and implementing a phase-out plan as quickly as possible, within budget, to achieve compliance," said Sten Rath, Refrigerants Product Marketing Manager at Wilhelmsen Ships Service.
On EU-flagged vessels it will still be legal to use reclaimed R-22 from an approved company within the EU to top up and service systems until 2015.
However, the availability of reclaimed R-22 is very limited, so prices are rising and are expected to remain high for the foreseeable future.
Although this legislation (EC2037) only applies to EU-flagged vessels, other vessels will also be affected if they call at EU ports and request virgin R-22. Ships carrying flags from places that have not ratified the Montreal Protocol will not be able to legally obtain virgin R-22 from a vendor inside the European Union.
This will violate the restrictions on trade laid down in the Montreal Protocol.
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