Starting from May, the Port of Tallinn mandates that the cleaning and other procedures carried out on ships` hulls underwater surfaces can be conducted in their premises only when the residue is collected.
Under the new measure, the hull cleaning service in the Port of Tallinn water area can be provided from now on only with the permission of the Vessel Traffic Shift Manager, provided that cleaning residues are collected to prevent their release into the marine environment.
This is the latest of the enhanced environmental measures the port has introduced in its operating areas, as part of its ambition to become the greenest port in the Baltic Sea area.
The sustainability strategy of Tallinn Port involves a major activity plan to decrease the environmental impact of the port and ships staying there, with measures including shore power, auto-mooring, or waste management, said Ellen Kaasik, Environmental Manager of Port of Tallinn.
We also look very closely on all services provided here and the decision to collect all hull cleaning residue was therefore the only way to go, as any kind of waste will add to the eutrophication problem of the sea,
….she explained.
At the moment, the Finnish DG Diving Group has announced its readiness to provide hull cleaning services in Port of Tallinn premises.
The company estimates that 200 meters long ship hulls can carry around 800 kilograms of biological matter attached underwater,
…commented Mika Rouhola from DG Diving Group Oy.
