Tag: GHG

Aviation and maritime sectors in Europe should be subject to same emissions control The direction of a legal battle over the European Union's regulation of airlines' greenhouse-gas emissions (GHGs), which has great implications for the maritime industry, maybe revealed as soon as next month. The European Court of Justice is expected to deliver its initial findings in a case brought by US airlines against the UK Government and European Commission over the inclusion of international airlines in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) as soon as late September.The international maritime industry has a lot at stake in this case. Brussels is also formulating a proposal to regulate GHGs from all shipping in the EU in much the same way. The chances of it successfully doing so will be heavily influenced by the outcome of the aviation case in Europe's highest court.An initial ruling from the ECJ could come in September or October, although there are expectations the full course of legal action could carry over into next year, which takes beyond the date the regulation comes into force.From January 1, Brussels will bring airlines into the EU ETS and require the surrender of emissions permits for every tonne of ...

The ships need a minimum score based on fuel consumption and emissions In an attempt to cut greenhouse gas emmissions, the Indian government will introduce a discount for all 'green' ships docking at the country's ports. The ships need a minimum score based on fuel consumption and emissions including sulphur di-oxide and carbon-di-oxide.Green is now the new buzz at the shipping ministry. In an endeavour to cut down on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and limit damage to coastal life, the ministry is planning to introduce a discount for 'green ships' that enter Indian ports.This is a prevalent practice at some major ports such as Hamburg in Germany, Antwerp in Belgium and Panama. The ministry has proposed offering a rebate of 25% on vessel related charges on such ships.To qualify for a discount a ship needs to score 30 or more points on the International Environmental Ship Index, which rates vessels on a scale from 0 to 100 based on factors such as fuel consumption and emissions including sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide.The minimum qualifying score at Indian ports, for availing the discount, is yet to be finalised. The proposal forms part of the discussions of the working group on shipping ...

Black carbon alone contributes at least 30 % You have probably heard about melting Arctic ice and the drastic decrease in glacier size. You may have seen it yourself during a trip to a favorite spot, and mourned the loss of beautiful snow covered views.And while you may be aware that the increase in greenhouse gases is to blame, at least in large part, for our planet's warming, you may not realize that a substance called black carbon is an accomplice, affecting everything from polar bear habitat in the Arctic to glacial fed drinking water in the Himalayas.A recent peer-reviewed study found that "Most of the change in snow and ice cover -- about 90 percent -- is from aerosols. Black carbon alone contributes at least 30 percent of this sum."Black carbon is an aerosol produced during poor combustion of carbon-based fuels (as opposed to carbon dioxide, which is produced in all circumstances), and together with organic carbon is one the major components in soot.Sources include diesel engines in various types of vehicles, furnaces, cook stoves, and forest fires, as well as some industrial processes. Some 25% to 35% of emissions occur in China and India (from combustion of wood, ...

Welcome the IMOs actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions The first ever mandatory energy efficiency measures for international shipping, Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) and Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP), were adopted last week. The breakthrough came at the 62nd session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) held in London.The Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) are newly incorporated into the MARPOL Annex VI regulations, adding a new chapter 4 Regulations on Energy Efficiency for Ships. Both measures of EEDI and SEEMP are expected to enter into force on 1 January, 2013, to be applied to ships of 400 gross tonnage and over.As a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) of worldwide ports that collaborate and provide input to the IMO, the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) welcomed the IMOs actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping.IAPH and its member base of approximately 200 ports worldwide welcomes and supports these significant policy developments by the International Maritime Organization, said IAPH President Geraldine Knatz, executive director of the Port of Los Angles.These measures, coupled with global air quality improvement initiatives like the IAPH World ...

IMO has developed a final version for amendments to MARPOL Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 After long debates and negotiations, the IMOs Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 62) has developed a final version for amendments to MARPOL Annex VI aimed to reduce ships greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The adoption may be reached by the end of this week through consensus rather than though voting. Therefore, as an interim report, below is a brief description of the amendments which MEPC 62 may adopt.The consensus for the adoption of these amendments to MARPOL is reached by adding two additional provisions: one promoting technical cooperation and transfer of technology, the other providing an waiver so that Administrations could chose to delay the enforcement of the amendments for up to 4 years.The amendments, due to come into force 1 January 2013, can be summed up as follows:1. New ship (building contract as from 1 January 2013 and delivery not later than 30 June 2015) will have to meet a required Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI). In addition, all ships, new and existing are required to keep onboard a ship specific Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) which may form part of the ship's ...

A brief overview of the mandatory measures A brief overview of the mandatory measures to reduce emissions of greenhouses gases (GHGs) from international shipping explained by IMO's Marine Environment Divison Director, Jo Espinoza-Ferrey.

SEAaT believes emissions trading system is the fairest to reduce GHG emissions Major international legal practice Norton Rose LLP and the freight services division of global mining group Rio Tinto have joined SEAaT (Shipping Emissions Abatement and Trading), the industry association dedicated to shipping emissions abatement and trading, as associate members.In marked contrast to the principal shipowners organisation, the International Chamber of Shipping, SEAaT believes emissions trading system is the fairest, most transparent and effective means of reducing GHG emissions, in particular since it would ensure volume emissions reduction over time across the sector. However it shares some common ground with the shipowners in also believing that shipping regulation must remain within the remit of the IMO and apply to all ships regardless of flag.John Aitken, Secretary General, SEAaT, said: To have the support of two large international groups is a great step forward for us at such a crucial time for the industry. The shipping industry needs to ensure any regulations introduced are not only good for the environment but also good for business. Norton Rose LLP and Rio Tinto Marine are certain to play key roles in discussions by joining SEAaT.Philip Roche, London based partner at Norton Rose ...

Looking for clues as to industry's regulatory future Many in shipping have been looking for clues as to industry's regulatory future in the election this week of a new chief of International Maritime Organization (IMO), Japan's Koji Sekimizu, currently director of the IMO's maritime safety division.On the thorny issue of greenhouse-gas (GHG) regulation, the IMO is currently exploring market-based measures (MBMs) to cut emissions and mulling a decision to make energy efficiency standards in ship design and operation mandatory. It appears any big decisions on market measures for international shipping will be made under the Sekimizu reign between 2012 and 2015.It is hard to gauge how his appointment will affect the direction of such regulation. Certainly, he can't be seen to be using his position to push Japan's MBM proposal for a bunker levy scheme designed to reward energy efficiency in ships. As to Semikizu's ability to oversee resolution in shipping's GHG emissions challenge, which has eluded his predecessors up to now, opinions differ.Lloyds List comments: "As a long-time insider Mr Semikizu might not be the Richard Branson-style candidate to shake up the organisation, as many people appeared to favour in a Lloyd's List's poll. But he is highly respected ...

A global solution to limiting greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry The European Union would prefer to have a global solution to limiting greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry, officials said from Brussels.European Commission Vice President Siim Kallas met with Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard to discuss mechanisms intended to reduce greenhouse emissions from the shipping industry."For a global sector such as maritime transport, measures which are the most environmentally effective and make economic sense can best be achieved through the International Maritime Organization," Kallas said in a statement.Hedegaard agreed, saying it was "high time" for the IMO to broker an agreement. "Much as we prefer a global solution, the member states and the European Parliament have asked the commission to present a possible proposal to reduce shipping emissions for 2012 in the case that the IMO fails to find a solution," she said.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a related measure this week launched an initiative aimed at reducing pollution from the long-haul trucks that service U.S. ports.European leaders are expected to call for the adoption of an energy efficient index developed by the IMO at its next environmental protection conference in July.European member states agreed to ...

A big challenge for the shipping industry Porta in united Kingdom can play a major role in reducing carbon emissions despite the fact that they are one of the least polluting links in the maritime supply chain.University of Hull has conducted a new study which found that port companies could be drivers of change in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the industry's supply chains.The study, presented at the Low Carbon Shipping 2011 International Conference in Glasgow last week, looked at the environmental actions taking place in UK ports and compared them with initiatives abroad. Researchers mapped the activity of 72 UK port locations and compared these Activities with those carried out by leading ports overseas.The findings revealed that carbon emissions from ports and port-related activity are small compared with emissions from ships and the haulage companies that serve them.According to the study's preliminary results, in 2008, the added emissions from five large UK ports groups represented a small percentage of those generated by the ships calling at these same ports: 174,000 tonnes from port operations and approximately 10m tonnes from international shipping.In 2007, international shipping accounted for 870m tonnes of carbon, or 2.7% of global emissions, whereas international aviation accounted ...