Seca Regulatory Impact Assessment: Administrative Burden Costs in the Baltic Sea Region

After three years of 0.1% Sulphur limit of the Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA) enforcement, empirical results have shown that the fears that SECA regulation would be a disadvantage for the Baltic Sea maritime sector are unfounded. Results have also shown commendable compliance rate and improved environmental conditions for the BSR. Nonetheless, there is still a need to clear the air regarding the costs information obligations that are required from maritime actors regarding their compliance activities. These activities are arguably obviously needful but could also lead to an unintended increase of costs of regulations.

Using a BSR-wide survey and case studies, the paper identified SECA information obligations related to the shipowners from shipping line whose vessels ply the SECA waters. The authors further evaluated the costs of the administrative burden related to these tasks.

The results show that the administrative burden for SECA regulations is different for shipowners and maritime authorities.