Air Emissions

Air emissions update

      In 1997, the IMO adopted the initial version of Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).  This Annex is entitled “Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships”.  It addresses ozone-depleting substances, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, volatile organic compounds, and shipboard incineration, among other things.  While acknowledged as comprehensive, this first step by the IMO in the area of control of harmful air emissions was perceived by many as weak. Various states of the United States staked out independent paths regarding control of air emissions from ships.  Alaska was one of the first to act, adopting standards for stack emissions based on opacitity.  In other words, if the smoke from the ship’s stack blocked the view for more than a limited period, the ship was subject to a fine.  The methodology was crude, but did encourage several cruise lines to adopt procedures for utilizing shore-side power (ie. cold ironing), particularly in Juneau. Not surprisingly, California has been the most active state with regard to air emissions from ships.  Regulations have been adopted prohibiting on-board incineration when the ship is within three nautical miles of the California coast

Hearing on Ballast Water Management and Emissions

The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure conducted a hearing on Draft Legislation regarding Ballast Water Management and Reduction of Air Pollution from Ships. As noted by Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), the draft bill would require the Coast Guard to establish ballast water discharge standards and facilitate development of alternative ballast water management methods

HAL to Conduct Air Emission Reducing Study

To determine the feasibility of new technology designed to dramatically reduce air emissions on seagoing vessels, Holland America Line plans on conducting a seawater scrubber feasibility project aboard one of its cruise ships thanks to the assistance of a $300,000 EPA/West Coast Collaborative grant and $100,000 contribution from Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. The total cost of the installation is more than $1.2 million

Hearing on Additional Air Pollution Controls for Large Ships

On August 9, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works conducted a field hearing in San Pedro entitled Hearing to Examine Port Pollution and the Need for Additional Controls on Large Ships. Chairwoman Boxer (D-CA) discussed the health impacts of air pollution. Representative Solis (D-CA) seconded those remarks. Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa of Los Angeles testified about the importance of green growth in the Port of Los Angeles

Vancouver Port Recognized for Eco-friendly Vessels

Port Metro Vancouver announces 11 Blue Circle Award winners Port Metro Vancouver is proud to honour 11 recipients of its Blue Circle Award for 2010. Launched last year, this award recognizes the most eco-friendly vessels that call at the Port. The Blue Circle Award acknowledges industry commitment to Port sustainability by recognizing the extraordinary environmental achievements of ships that participate in Port Metro Vancouver’s EcoAction Program for Shipping

LNG-powered Viking Grace Re-defines Ferry Travel

Lloyd’s Register significantly helped the vessel’s owners & builders work through the complexities of 'Viking Grace's' novel design features. Finland’s Viking Line recently notched up a world first when it launched Viking Grace, the most environmentally friendly large passenger ship, at STX Finland Turku shipyard. The 56,000 gt vessel is powered by LNG and generates no marine emissions and very few air emissions

Port of Los Angeles Commits $3.12m to Projects

The Board of Harbor Commissioners this week approved spending $3.12 million over the next year on 16 customer projects aimed at reducing air emissions. In total, over their lifetime these projects reduce NOx emissions by more than 1,000 tons, and particulate matter by nearly 30 tons. The projects were reviewed by the Port's Technical Advisory Committee and the Port Community Advisory Committee, and the final 16 were recommended to the Board for funding consideration.

Hawaii Opposes California Container Tax

The California state legislature is considering a new tax on shipping containers that would cost an estimated $34m a year to Hawaii shippers, The Pacific Business Journal reported. More than 80 percent of goods consumed in Hawaii are produced elsewhere and shipped to the islands, and 90 percent of those are shipped through the California ports of Oakland and Long Beach on the ships of Matson Navigation Co., Horizon Lines and Pasha Hawaii Transport.

Seminar, Environmental Reqs for Ships

A Seminar on Environmental Requirements for Commercial and Navy Ships for Efficient Maritime Operations and Effective Environmental Stewardship will be held on Dec. 9, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta in Atlanta, Ga.  Sponsored by ASTM Committee F25 on Ships and Marine Technology, the seminar will be held in conjunction with the Dec. 8-10 standards development meetings of the committee.   The desired outcome of this seminar is to identify areas where environmental standards

Groundbreaking, Start of “Green” Marine Highway Project

The Obama Administration’s continuing commitment to a more efficient and green U.S. transportation system moved forward as Maritime Administrator David T. Matsuda joined other federal, state and local officials at the Port of Stockton to officially break ground on California’s new Green Trade Corridor on Oct. 26  The $30m Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant will help develop a viable waterborne shipping route between Oakland