The Energy Information Administration said Nov. 10 that Maersk Line conducted the first ever “fuel switch” demonstration on a container ship in the Gulf of Mexico as the result of a partnership with the agency and the Port of Houston Authority.

“We at EPA are excited that the Port of Houston Authority and Maersk Line chose to show their commitment to environmental quality and public health by executing this innovative project,” said Michelle DePass, assistant administrator for International Affairs at EPA.

Switching from high-sulfur to low-sulfur fuel has been proven as an effective means of reducing air emissions near land and will likely have a positive impact on public health in the affected U.S. coastal areas as it will decrease the impact of shipping emissions of particulate matter. EPA estimates that fuel switching will result in reducing local air pollution and its burden on public health by producing more than a 95 percent reduction in sulfur dioxide and an 85 percent reduction in fine particulate matter.

This specific project was designed to be an example of the effectiveness of using lower-sulfur rules in ocean going vessels, and will calculate and report the air pollutant emissions reductions achieved by switching from high to lower sulfur marine fuel. The partnership is optimistic that there will be significant emission reductions in ports in the Gulf of Mexico where the test vessel will dock—the Port of Houston and the Port of Progreso, Mexico.