Tag: marine environment

A research team led by NOAA has found the first evidence that acidity of continental shelf waters off the West Coast is dissolving the shells of tiny free-swimming marine snails, called pteropods, which provide food for pink salmon, mackerel and herring, according to a new paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. It is estimated by the researchers that the percentage of pteropods in this region with dissolving shells due to ocean acidification has doubled in the nearshore habitat since the pre-industrial era and is on track to triple by 2050 when coastal waters become 70 percent more corrosive than in the pre-industrial era due to human-caused ocean acidification. The new research documents the movement of corrosive waters onto the continental shelf from April to September during the upwelling season, when winds bring water rich in carbon dioxide up from depths of about 400-600 feet to the surface and onto the continental shelf. "Our findings are the first evidence that a large fraction of the West Coast pteropod population is being affected by ocean acidification," said Nina Bednarsek, Ph.D., of NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle, the lead author of the paper. "Dissolving coastal pteropod shells point ...

In one project, NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson will survey in Long Island Sound, performing essential habitat mapping in Fishers Island Sound, and continuing Post Tropical Cyclone Sandy hydrographic surveys that were started in 2013. (Credit: NOAA.) NOAA ships, small boats, and hydrographic services contractors have their sailing orders to survey more than 2,000 square nautical miles in U.S. coastal waters this year, collecting data that will strengthen the foundation of the nation's environmental intelligence. Most of the vessels are sailing to their initial project areas now. The NOAA Office of Coast Survey will manage and conduct surveys that will measure water depths and collect ocean floor data so the agency can update its nautical charts, identify navigational hazards, support wind farm sitings, map ocean habitats, and assist state governments with their ocean projects. "Accurate data are absolutely necessary to engage in informed discussions and make sound ocean policy," said Holly Bamford, Ph.D., assistant NOAA administrator for NOAA's National Ocean Service. "Whether it's a ship loading exports for overseas customers, or a city planning to strengthen coastal resilience, industry and government require the strong foundation that coastal environmental intelligence provided by our hydrographic data and charts offers." Protecting vessels, and the ...

A new edition of the ITOPF Handbook is now available for 2014/15. This contains a wealth of valuable information and guidance for those likely to be involved in spills of oil and chemicals from ships. It features information on ITOPF's technical and information services, oil spill statistics, the fate and effects of marine oil spills, clean-up techniques, the organisation of spill response, contingency planning and compensation. ITOPF's Oil Tanker Spill Statistics 2013 published in January, is now available in Chinese   Please click at image below to download ITOPF Handbook  In the outbreak, I was frank with you propecia before and after has changed my being. It has become much more fun, and now I have to run. Just as it is improbable to sit.

The European Parliament endorsed a Directive for Maritime Spatial Planning which should help Member States develop plans to better coordinate the various activities that take place at sea, ensuring they are as efficient and sustainable as possible. In coastal and maritime areas, many activities compete for the same space and resources: fishing grounds, aquaculture farms, marine protected areas exist alongside maritime infrastructures such as cables, pipelines, shipping lanes and oil, gas and wind installations. The new Directive will help avoid potential conflicts between such diverse uses and create a stable environment attractive to investors, thereby contributing to sustainable growth. With rapidly increasing demand for maritime space for new activities, from renewable energy to aquaculture installations, better and coherent planning of maritime activities at sea is indeed needed. The Directive sets minimum requirements for the drawing up of national maritime spatial plans. These plans will identify all existing human activities, taking into account land-sea interactions, and the most effective way of managing them. As many of the activities run across national borders, the Directive will help Member States co-operate better. European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki and Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "Today's vote in the European Parliament ...

The 3rd Annual GREEN4SEA Forum, a PRO BONO event, successfully concluded on Wednesday 9th of April 2014 in Eugenides Foundation Athens. A unique panel of 22 global experts debated a wide range of issues, covering regulatory update and latest developments in the marine environment regarding air emissions and energy efficiency, green shipping, ballast water management and the use of LNG as a marine fuel. The event has been well attended by over 520 delegates at the venue representing more than 260 companies/organisations. The event organized by SQE Marine Group and sponsored by ABS, Bureau Veritas, Capital Shipmanagement, DNV GL, Dorian LPG, ERMA FIRST ESK Engineering, IHMA, JLMD Ecologic Group, Kyklades Maritime Corporation, Lloyd's Register, OceanKing SA, Propulsion Dynamics, SEAMAR Management SA, SQE MARINE & SQE ACADEMY, TRANSMAR Shipping. Also the event supported by EENMA, Green Award, IFSMA, INTERTANKO, MARTECMA, NAMEPA and WISTA. During his welcome address Mr. Apostolos Belokas, as the Forum chairman outlined the objectives of this PRO BONO event, including enhancing Maritime Environmental Awareness and promoting Best Practices for a greener industry. Presentations were given in four sessions as follows: Session 1 : Air Emissions & Energy Efficiency Stamatis Fradelos, ABS, covered latest environmental regulatory developments Panos Zachariadis, Atlantic Bulk Carriers, gave a presentation on ...

Lloyd's Register analysis of ports provides insight into the future of LNG bunkering world-wide as short sea demand grows and the possibility of expansion into bunkering for deep sea emerges. Lloyd's Register's LNG Bunkering Infrastructural Survey 2014 indicates that major ports around the world are either planning for, or are anticipating, the wide-scale development of LNG bunkering. 22 ports were assessed in the analysis with 18 key questions addressed. This latest analysis builds on the Lloyd's Register LNG bunkering Infrastructure Study completed in 2011. Shipowner demand, unsurprisingly, remains the biggest driver from the ports' perspective but availability of LNG infrastructure has risen from being considered a low priority to the second most important driver after demand. Pricing is third. Most ports surveyed are in the North American and European emission Control Areas (ECAs). Key findings 59% of ports surveyed have specific plans for LNG bunkering infrastructure. Lack of in-port infrastructure will not hamper LNG bunker delivery plans. 76% of the ports believe that LNG bunkering operations will commence at their port within 5 years. By 2020 key European ports will be able to support deep sea bunkering operations. 73% of ports say that LNG will be supplied by existing onshore ...

The Global Shippers' Forum is calling for shippers to have a greater voice in global discussions as the debate continues on how to tackle maritime greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions. Ahead of the International Maritime Organisation's Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting (MEPC 66), it is vital that shippers have a place in the global debate on the most appropriate means to reduce ghg from ships. This has become a matter of greater urgency with the European Commission's proposals for a monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system from 2018 for all large ships that use EU ports, irrespective of where the ships are registered. GSF expects the MRV will be the main topic of discussion on maritime emissions at MEPC 66 and how it could potentially be applied at a global level. Chris Welsh, Secretary General of GSF said: "We are at a particularly critical time in finding the solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the maritime industry. The GSF is convinced shippers can help influence the debate in a positive way and ensure there is an effective and cost efficient approach. In recent months, we have been heartened to see a move away from financial market-based measures by the IMO ...

Marine plastic debris is a serious environmental problem that needs immediate global attention. DNV GL says that has now begun efforts to address the problem in a partnership project with WWF-Norway, called Plastic Aquatic. Even when all preventative measures for reducing plastic pollution have been taken, there will still be large amounts of plastic in the oceans, and cleanup will be necessary. Creating efficient solutions requires understanding of the problem in all its complexity. Together, DNV GL and WWF Norway have partnered to create a concept platform which makes further research and innovation possible. The world needs solutions to remove environmental toxins and plastics from the ecosystem, even if we are able to remove only a small fraction. This must be done without having significant negative effects on the marine life. At the same time, we are in serious need of political will, money and arrangements to prevent new debris from ending up in the ocean in the future, says Nina Jensen, general secretary of WWF-Norway. The seas and oceans are increasingly becoming the waste dump of the planet. The European Commission aims to adopt additional measures which could contribute to a further substantive reduction in the future.EC issued last October ...

The Baltic Sea is in critical condition, with several environmental challenges threatening its future. First, wastewater and agricultural runoff from fertilized fields is leading to eutrophication, a process that decreases the oxygen critical to marine life and causes severe algal blooms. Second, hazardous substances such as flame retardants, dioxins, and pharmaceuticals are resulting in contamination of the waters and driving up toxin levels in the fish that are hauled in. Third, overfishing has depleted important commercial fish stocks such as cod, herring, and sprat despite some recent progress in addressing the issue. The strong projected growth of the region will only place more demands on the sea's limited resources unless actions are taken to address these problems and restore the waters to health. At the same time, however, the Baltic Sea region-which includes the countries of Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Russia-is particularly well positioned to take on a global leadership role in responding to these types of environmental challenges. Politically stable and not plagued by poverty, war, or other major conflicts, this dynamic region is also financially strong and boasts well-educated people, a relatively low population density, a solid commercial base, and a reputation for innovation. Given these ...

Global Marine Fuel Trends 2030 from Lloyd's Register and University College London's Energy Institute explores the drivers for the future energy mix in shipping in 2030. The report provides insight into future fuel demand for the containership, bulk carrier/general cargo and tanker sectors - representing approximately 70% of the global shipping industry's fuel demands Global Marine Fuel Trends 2030 central objective is to unravel the landscape of fuels used by commercial shipping over the next 16 years. The problem has many dimensions: a fuel needs to be available, cost-effective, compatible with existing and future technology and compliant with current and future environmental requirements. In a way, one cannot evaluate the future of marine fuels without evaluating the future of the marine industry. And the future of the marine industry itself is irrevocably linked with the global economic, social and political landscape to 2030. Rather than looking for a single outcome, LR uses scenario planning methodologies making the connection with Global Marine Trends 2030, through its 3 different scenarios: Status Quo, Global Commons and Competing Nations. These scenarios represent alternative futures for the world and shipping in 2030, from business as usual to more globalisation or more localisation. LR's assumptions are fed into probably the most sophisticated scenario planning model that exists for global shipping, GloTraM, developed ...