Tag: SOx

IMO’s MEPC 73 has started its session, which will last from 22 to 26 of October.  MEPC moved ahead with its work to deliver the IMO initial strategy on the reduction of GHG emissions from ships, approving a programme of follow-up actions. A working group on GHG reduction will continue discussions, including the fourth IMO GHG study.

The first guide of 'The Port Emissions Toolkit': Assessment of port emissions, incorporates the latest emission inventory methods and approaches. It recognizes that ships do not operate independently from shore-based entities in the maritime transportation system, and that port emission considerations must extend beyond the ships themselves.

The Environmental Ship Index rewards and incentivises shipowners with vessels that meet and exceed IMO emissions standards. ESI is now approaching the 7,000 vessel mark and plans an upgrade. Namely, it will upgrade its IT system, including the current database of registered vessels as well as the online portal itself.

The IMO Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea is coordinating the technical and feasibility study to examine the possibility of designating the Mediterranean Sea, or parts of it, as a SOx-ECA under IMO’s prevention of pollution convention (MARPOL) Annex VI.

The UK has taken an important step towards ratifying the 2012 amendments to the Gothenburg Protocol, an international agreement to reduce air pollution, as an Explanatory Memorandum signed by the Environment Secretary and the text of the amendment to the Gothenburg Protocol were presented to the parliament.

Ahead of the 2020 Sulphur Cap, Mr. Ioannis Chiotopoulos, Regional Manager South East Europe, Middle East & Africa, DNV GL – Maritime, shares his thoughts about industry's compliance with upcoming regulations, highlighting that it remains a complex issue for the operators. Following the announcement of M/T Almi Atlas newbuilding project, which is the first VLCC  fitted with scrubbers and is classed under DNV GL,  Mr. Chiotopoulos provides feedback on scrubbers.

Air pollution from sulphur oxides that ships emit has dropped significantly over the past years, a new compliance report by the European Commission shows. This is the result of joint efforts by EU and the maritime industry to implement EU rules under the Sulphur Directive and the choice for cleaner fuel.

During his presentation at the last GREEN4SEA Conference, Mr. Antony Vourdachas, ABS, referred to the latest regulatory updates, including those related to air emissions as well. Presenting a regulation timetable from the top (2021), he attempted to clarify the regulatory landscape facing ship operators and owner.

The 336m VLCC "Almi Atlas", features 310,000 in dwt, and a SOx scrubber, which reduces SOx emissions to less than 0.5 pct from the existing 3.5 pct. Namely, the gas cleaning system will be 11 meters in height and 8.3 meters wide, and will use seawater to clean the exhaust gas waste.

Under their environmental partnership, German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd and logistics company DB Schenker launched a project to address sulfur oxide emissions especially in Asian and Latin American ports.