The Baltic Ports Organisation conducted a seminar in order for discussions to begin concerning port emissions in European ports. Approximately 80 participants gathered in Gdynia, Poland, in the early days of March to discuss the issue of air pollution in ports.
The seminar was opened by WSP’s Emre Aydin, who numbered the main air pollution factors, including diesel generators (responsible for electricity generation), oil fired boilers (used during fuel heating) and cruise ships’ hotelling time during their extensive berthing periods.
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Maritime Development Center’s Jan Boyesenv commented on the beneficial impact of clean shipping on overall health quality in the region and highlighted a 25-40% drop in mortality rate linked to emissions from shipping.
Moreover, British Ports Association’s Mark Simmonds attended the seminar, talking about UK’s experience in ports air pollution.
He highlighted that NGOs and local authorities put pressure on dealing with port air pollution, resulting to the British Government taking action and announcing that all UK ports handling over 1 million tonnes per year would be required to produce air quality plans by the end of 2019.
Among discussions it was highlighted that a direct solution to air pollution in ports is the introduction of the on-shore power supply and LNG or opportunities presented by coastal and short sea shipping.
Concluding, Krzysztof Kołwzan, of the Polish Register of Shipping, highlighted the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2020 sulphur cap and its initial strategy on the reduction of GHG emissions from ships.