Tag: pollution prevention

GAC Egypt announced that expanded its HullWiper hull cleaning system to vessels berthing at ports in the Suez Canal.  The eco-friendly remotely operated vehicle has already attended its first vessel, respectively a crude oil tanker.

The Honduras Maritime Authority advised that all vessels must nominate an oil spill response organisation which has been approved by the Authority to secure the availability of private personnel and equipment necessary to remove a worst-case discharge, and to mitigate or prevent a threat of such a discharge.

The four-year, $5-million Oil Spill Response Science program, under the national Oceans Protection Plan, aims at improving the technologies and techniques for recovering or removing heavy oil products from marine environments, in the unlikely event of a spill.

The Clean Arctic Alliance has issued an infographic illustrating the real costs of HFO spills, identified as the major risk posed by Arctic shipping to the local environment, wildlife and communities. Heavy Fuel Oil is the highly viscous, residual product of crude oil refining, extremely toxic and slow to degrade.

ICS Chairman, Mr Esben Poulsson, has praised the positive role played by the Chinese Government in supporting the global regulatory framework for merchant shipping provided by IMO, in contrast with the tendency by some other IMO Member States  towards adopting unilateral shipping regulations.

USCG outlines where the industry stands with respect to Type Approval, informing that so far it has approved six BWMSs whereas many are currently under review. Extensions are no longer necessary for most vessels because operators are now able to select and install a Coast Guard type approved BWMS.

Wreck removal efforts of the Pacific Paradise continue, following the fishing vessel's grounding off Kaimana Beach, Honolulu, according to US Coast Guard, and the unified command has contracted Resolve Marine Group, with support from several other experts, to conduct the removal of the pollution threat.

Marking one-year anniversary of Canada’s $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan, the Government of Canada announced introduction of the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act in Parliament to strengthen owner responsibility and liability for their vessels, including costs for clean-up and removal.

Solutions to address human-induced “Ocean Change” are needed to save life in the ocean and reverse the cycle of decline in which it is caught, according to Fiji's Ambassador Peter Thomson, the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for the Ocean.

Indian minister for Road Transport and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari, said that India must use pollution-free methanol as fuel, in an effort to minimize pollution. To this end, the government has started discussions with engine manufacturers to make bio-fuel compliant engines for ships.