Ship Emissions

Study: Shipping Cited in Pollution-Related Deaths

While the international shipping industry already is under acute pressure to reduce emissions, a new study – which claims that worldwide 60,000 deaths each year are attributable to pollutions from ships – could help to increase public pressure further. The study, published in the American Chemical Society’s publication Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) (DOI: 10.1021/es071686z) was produced by a team led by James Corbett of the University of Delaware and James Winebrake of the Rochester Institute of Technology, provide some of the first estimates of premature mortality from exposure to particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfate in global ship emissions. The ES&T research was commissioned in part by the environmental groups Clean Air Task Force and Friends of the Earth International, which is a party to IMO discussions. This week, IMO will discuss data on ship emissions and whether to require emissions controls or a switch to cleaner fuels. Depending on the scenarios and models used, the number of such premature deaths in 2002 ranged from about 19,000 to 64,000. Southeast Asia, India, and Europe bore the brunt of the mortality along coastlines and near ports, but inland France also saw high mortality rates due to atmospheric circulation patterns and population density, the models show. (Source: Environmental Science & Technology Online)

SEAaT Emissions Trading Seminar

SEAaT, the association promoting abatement technology and emissions trading for ships, is to host the Shipping Emissions Trading Seminar on 2nd April at the IMO in London, to discuss and develop strategies for the implementation of emissions trading for shipping. The Seminar is by invite only and is structured to provide key stakeholders in shipping, finance and regulatory bodies and is designed to give an insight to the application of emissions trading for the shipping industry - set against

Ship Pollution Takes Center Stage In Europe

Smoke from Europe's ships is fast becoming the biggest source of acid rain-causing sulfur pollution, a recent report said. By 2010 ships will account for 30-40 percent of total EU sulfur emissions as land-based polluters are curbed and shipping's contribution to the overall picture increases, said a recent report to the European Commission by marine consultant BMT. "Shipping hasn't so far been asked to contribute, but the world thinks it's about time

IMO, EC Reinforce Working Relationship

Mr. Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Transport, visited the IMO Secretary-General, Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, at IMO Headquarters in London on Friday 14 March 2007, within the framework of co-operation between the two sides aimed at promoting maritime safety and security and environmental protection. The meeting was the fourth between the two following previous regular meetings successively held in London and Brussels since February 2005.

Intersleek 900 for UK Navy’s Flagship

The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has returned to International Paint for more of the latest fuel saving technology, Intersleek 900, for the hull of the UK Navy’s flagship HMS Ark Royal. She is the latest UK MoD vessel to benefit from Intersleek foul release coatings which can cut fuel consumption and reduce emissions. As part of the Ark Royal’s Contractor Support Period at Portsmouth Naval Dockyard in the UK, the 20

ICS: Un Climate Change Negotiations

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) – which represents all sectors and trades of the global shipping industry and more than 80% of the world merchant fleet – has produced a briefing document for government climate change negotiators, in advance of the next United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 17), which commences in Durban at the end of November.        The Document entitled ‘Shipping

Ship Emissions Tops IMO Agenda

Work on reviewing regulations to reduce emissions of air pollutants from ships was high on the agenda when the IMO Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases (BLG) met for its 11th session from 16-20 April 2007. It followed on from an intersessional meeting of the BLG Working Group on Air Pollution, which took place from 13 to 17 November 2006, in Oslo, Norway, to develop the necessary MARPOL amendments. The Working Group on Air Pollution was reconvened during the current session, chaired by Mr

EU to Develop Sulfur Strategy

The EU is limbering up to set new restrictions on sulfur in marine fuels, if MARPOL Annex VI is not implemented quickly, explains Ian Adams, secretary general of the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA). At the same time, the European Commission aims to clarify its own directive on sulfur limits for marine diesel oil, which have been subject to different interpretations in different countries. The EC believes that for sulfur oxide

A Tidal Wave of New Regulations

  Ballast Water Management The management ballast water discharges began with the enactment of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (NANPCA) as an effort to prevent the introduction of additional invasive species into the Great Lakes.  Since then, NANPCA was amended by the National Invasive Species Act of 1996 and the issue has progressed over the intervening years to a much larger campaign to regulate all vessel discharges into U.S. waters

Ship Emissions & Efficiency Agenda, GL North American Meeting

The introduction of new emissions control areas (ECA) off the coastal waters of the US and Canada promise great changes for shipping in the region. These regulations coloured many of the topics discussed at the North American Committee of Germanischer Lloyd (GL), which met at the Hotel Delta in Quebec City this week. The Committee examined such topics as GL's activities, both globally and in the Americas, ship efficiency, the rising importance of natural gas for the maritime industry