Tag: reducing shipping emissions

The IMO Committee on Protection of the Marine Environment (MEPC) held its 67th Session from Monday 13 through Friday 17 October 2014 in IMO Headquarters in London. Among the many issues discussed by the Committee, developments on the air pollution were on the agenda. IMO MEPC 67 concluded the following: Air Pollution from ships Impact on the Arctic of emissions of Black Carbon from International shipping It was felt premature for the Committee to single out a particular contender for  an agreed definition of Black Carbon thus the matter will be sent back to PPR at its second (next) session with a view to them making a clear and definitive recommendation. Fuel Oil Quality The Committee noted the outcome of MSC 93’s consideration of fuel oil quality and its possible impact on crew health, ship safety and environmental protection.  Proposals were invited to MSC94, for consideration in conjunction with the outcome of MEPC 67, urging Member Governments, in the meantime, to strengthen their oversight capacity of bunker fuel suppliers.   In the ensuing discussion, the majority of Member States expressed a view supporting the development of non-mandatory guidance whilst a significant minority of Member States supported mandatory measures.  (Of note, had the NGO vote ...

European shipowners are concerned by the intention of the Italian Presidency of the Council to move full steam ahead with an inter-institutional agreement on the EU Regulation for Monitoring, Reporting and Verification system of carbon dioxide emissions from maritime transport (EU MRV Regulation), which could potentially include commercial and operational information. ECSA urges EU decision-makers ahead of the trialogue negotiations to re-focus on developments at international level, lest unilateral EU action lead to regional differentiation and ultimately obstruct progress in the IMO (International maritime Organisation). In 2013, the European Commission put forward the MRV proposal with the intention of paving the way for an international solution. The IMO has in parallel been making progress towards establishing a global monitoring system. Currently, the work on the EU instrument is proceeding at a faster pace than the work of the IMO, and therein lies the risk. The EU instrument should be as simple and straightforward as possible, so as to be easily adaptable at a later stage to incorporate the outcome of the IMO process. Moreover, the simpler the EU tool remains, the more it will facilitate international negotiations instead of pre-empting them. “The stated goal of EU regulators has until now ...

According to an article posted at South China Morning Post, Shenzhen plans to spend 200m yuan on cash to encourage firms to switch to low- sulphur fuel while at berth to cut emissions.  The Shenzhen government will subsidise between 75 and 100 per cent of the extra costs incurred in the voluntary at-berth switch to fuel with a maximum 0.5 per cent sulphur content, which is more expensive than regular marine bunker that contains 3 to 3.5 per cent sulphur. The scheme will take effect next month and last for three years. In 2011, 19 shipping firms came together in Hong Kong to voluntarily switch to low-sulphur fuel at berth, bearing the entire extra bunker costs - an average of US$2 million a year - themselves. Known as the Fair Winds Charter, the endeavour did not receive cash subsidies from the city's government until September last year, when a three-year grant was rolled out that offset up to 50 per cent of the switch costs. Bunker bills generally account for 20 to 30 per cent in the operational costs of shipping lines, which have been hit by heavy losses in a protracted industry slump. The Fair Winds Charter also led ...

NAMEPA (North American Marine Environment Protection Association) Annual Conference, themed 'Marine Environment Protection:  Evolution or Revolution?', reflects both the revolutionary challenges (new Emission Control Area (ECA) requirements, fuel sourcing, and partnerships) and evolutionary changes in the maritime industry.  The conference will be held on October 29th aboard the Hornblower Infinity at Pier 40 in New York, NY beginning at 0800.  "Our industry continues to experience revolutionary changes, as well as the evolution of responses to today's commercial and regulatory environment," stated NAMEPA Chairman Clay Maitland.  "We are facing a new era in marine propulsion, while updating and improving aspects of our operational practices.  We continue to create strategic alliances with groups anxious to work with us to improve the performance of our industry, as well as conduct risk analysis to make sure we are on track for success."  The "Revolution" of the new ECA coming into force on January 1, 2015 will prompt discussions about low sulfur fuel supplies and fuel alternatives.  Other revolutionary challenges being discussed include the maritime industry's willingness to partner to achieve collective success.  From an "Evolution" standpoint, a mixed-discipline panel will address the maritime industry's last 25 years of learning and improving its ability to respond to ...

The Global Shippers' Forum is calling for shippers' carbon reporting requirements to be fully considered as the maritime sector develops technical and operational measures to reduce emissions. Ahead of the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 67) next week, GSF is supporting progress towards establishing a data collection system for ships to measure maritime emissions. Shippers are under increasing pressure to be able to report Scope 3 (indirect carbon emissions) to customers and require this data from ship operators. Chris Welsh, Secretary General of GSF said: "Next week, we hope that the IMO's special correspondence group taking this work forward will make further progress on a data collection system. A pragmatic and practical data collection system, based where possible on actual fuel consumption and distance travelled, will help identify where emissions need to be cut whilst assisting shippers in making carbon efficient supply chain decisions." As the European Commission also works on proposals for a monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system from 2018 for all large ships that use EU ports, GSF welcomes the IMO's decision to also establish a global system. Ultimately a global reporting system for ships is required as shipping remains a global industry. Mr ...

Last month, experts on marine emissions gathered for an ABB-led discussion at the SMM shipbuilding, machinery and marine technology fair in Hamburg agreed regulations will play a role in helping ports improve their air quality. But financial incentives being provided by the EPA to ports across the United States are also helping move things along. This year, the agency is chipping in $4.2 million toward six projects that will benefit from its Diesel Emissions Reduction Program, to help harbors clean up their air by eliminating harmful fumes from diesel engines. Case in point: Central California's Port of Hueneme is getting $500,000 to expand its shore-to-ship power project. With it, additional vessels will be able to shut off their auxiliary engines when they dock at this important West Coast deepwater gateway for trade. In what Port of Hueneme officials are calling a "giant leap forward," they estimate the system will prevent more than 4,200 tons of particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide from being released annually by refrigerated vessels calling here. Since ABB installed the first shore-to-ship power supply system at the port in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2000, the power and automation company has provided similar equipment ...

A major study by Southland air quality officials has found that reductions in toxic emissions have cut residents' cancer risk from air pollution on average by more than 50 percent since 2005. "Air pollution controls on everything from cars to trucks to industrial plants have dramatically reduced toxic emissions in our region," said Barry Wallerstein, executive officer of the South Coast Air Quality Management District. "However, remaining risks are still unacceptably high in some areas," Wallerstein said. "We need to maintain our commitment to reducing toxic emissions so that everyone can breathe healthful air." MATES IV found that diesel particulate emitted from diesel-powered vehicles and equipment was responsible for 68 percent of the total cancer risk. Fully 90 percent of the risk is due to mobile sources, which includes everything from ocean-going ships and cars to trucks, locomotives, aircraft and construction equipment. Air quality data and economic trends between 2004 and 2013 indicate that the reduction in toxic emissions and cancer risk was not due solely to the recession. From 2010 to 2013, for instance, the number of containers shipped through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach - a key indicator of goods movement activity - has rebounded, ...

President Obama has taken action to build the foundation for a clean energy economy, tackle the issue of climate change and protect our environment. The maritime industry understands and embraces this thinking not only because it makes sense, but also as it will be essential to future viability of marine transportation. The industry continues to take a leading role in environmental responsibility and the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) is helping them chart the course. With two recently released reports examining storage and bunkering options for Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) and providing vital data on natural gas emissions, US MARAD's Office of Environment and Safety is providing information the industry needs to transition to cleaner burning fuels. And by identifying potential challenges and recommending best practices and new standards, US MARAD is working to streamline the development of a transportation network that supports the integration of natural gas as a marine fuel. Another step forward was taken with approval of a $324.6 million Title XI loan guarantee to TOTE Shipholdings, Inc., a 2014 White House Transportation Champion of Change, to finance construction of two container ships that will use LNG as propulsion fuel. The US MARAD Title XI Loan Guarantee program ...

According to the Carbon War Room, the number of ports using ship-evaluation systems to reduce carbon emissions could rise as much as 500 per cent in 2015. Up to 10 ports will cut fees for vessels designed and maintained to minimise fuel consumption next year, compared with two currently. Rotterdam, Europe's largest port, will begin looking at how it can promote more energy efficient vessels, according to a port authority statement. Branson, a Carbon War Room founder, said: "That will speed up the move from shippers to try to move towards clean ships rather than dirty ships. It's just a cog in the wheel to sorting out the much bigger problem of the environmental damage from carbon." Shipping accounted for an estimated 2.7 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions in 2007, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations' shipping agency. Rotterdam discounts port fees to vessels which emit low levels of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides. The port is researching how to extend the port-fee discount programme to low-carbon emitting ships, according to the statement. The ship efficiency data rankings were developed by RightShip, a marine and environmental risk management system, and the Carbon War Room. ...

The total Green House Gas emissions from global maritime transport are estimated to have been over 20% lower in 2012 than in 2007, according to the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the global shipping industry's trade association. The global shipping industry, which transports by sea around 90% of all world trade, is thought to have produced only about 2.2% of the world's total GHG emissions during 2012 compared to 2.8% in 2007. The estimates are contained in the latest comprehensive study of the shipping industry's Green House Gas emissions prepared by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which will be considered by its Marine Environment Protection Committee next month.  The IMO is the shipping industry's global regulator. Speaking at the United Nations Climate Summit in New York today, convened by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, to give impetus to the negotiations on a new global climate change agreement, ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe remarked: "The latest IMO study, which uses satellite tracking, suggests there's been a significant reduction in absolute CO2 emissions from ships due to the introduction of operational efficiency measures across the whole fleet.  This includes operating at slower speeds, combined with more fuel efficient designs on board the ...