Tag: pollution prevention

90% of world trade is being transported by ships at sea. However, emissions from ships are seriously affecting tens of thousands of people every year. For this reason, the Port of Gothenburg, Scandinavia's busiest shipping hub, is trying to come up with a number of methods to tackle the effects of shipping pollution.

The Chinese Government has implemented stricter controls on waste importation by adding a substantial number of solid waste types to the list of banned wastes which cannot be imported into China without a license, the London P&I Club said citing Chinese correspondents Huatai Insurance Agency & Consultant Service Ltd.

Ensuring consistent implementation of the 0.50% requirement coming into effect on 1 January 2020 is a key item on the agenda of IMO’s Sub-committee on PPR being held from 5 to 9 February, at IMO headquarters. The meeting will also continue to look at how to measure black carbon emissions from shipping. 

China will undertake a new initiative regarding oil spills at sea, as the country's Ministry of Transport will create a laboratory for treating oil spills at sea, which will be the first of its kind in China. The laboratory will be located in the port city of Tianjin and will be granted an initial investment $63 million. The investment regards research projects for ocean protection and improvements in sea-borne transportation.

The US Coast Guard informed that the Hurricane Maria Emergency Support Function 10 (ESF-10) Puerto Rico urges vessel owners in need of assistance to call the Hurricane Maria Vessel Hotline to request free support to remove a vessel, report a vessel removal plan, or report a vessel that has already been removed.

HCFCs are being heavily used different types of actions within vessels, from air-conditioning to conditioning cargo. Nowadays, many vessels are beginning to phase out the use of older compounds, adopting new techniques and materials which are more efficient for the environment.

To uphold the Government of Canada's high standards for marine shipping in the north, Transport Canada has introduced new Arctic Shipping Safety and Pollution Prevention Regulations. The regulations incorporate the Polar Code into Canada's domestic legislation.

According to Turkey's latest amendments, which were brought into effect in April 2017, heavy fines will imposed by the authorities including the Environmental Protection Agency, Harbour Master and Public Prosecutor against the offending vessels and Masters.

The Arctic Council Working Group on Emergency Prevention Preparedness and Response met in Malmö to boost work related to marine environmental response and search and rescue in Arctic. The Working Group is made up of representatives from Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and US.

UK MCA released a Marine Guidance Note, in which it informs shipowners and masters of the requirement to maintain compulsory insurance against liability for bunker oil pollution damage.