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October 2008
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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
October 31st 2008 - EU targeting shipping's carbon emissions
The European Commission said that it would take action by itself about the targeting of CO2 emissions from shipping if there were no new international initiatives. The EU would prefer a global approach but, if that would not happen by the end of 2009, the EC would look at options including a levy on bunker fuel use for ships calling at EU ports, variable harbour dues, and the inclusion of shipping in the EU carbon trading schemes.
Bunkerworld
October 24th 2008 - Natural gas for the propulsion of ships
The gas-ship represent the new ecological option for the shipping. Natural gas, which contains less carbon than mineral oils, is becoming popular as marine fuel. Until now its use was forbidden for safety reasons by the IMO. But the ONU association is actually working on some provisional guidelines in order to allow, within certain limits, its use. A first reply is expected by 2009.
According to one of the Germanisher Lloyd executive board members, from 2010 there will probably exist the legal basis fir the use, in the international shipping, of natural gas as marine fuel. In comparison with the fuel oil, the natural gas has evident environmental benefits: high performances and good ecological properties. A study conducted by GL showed that gas propelled ships would reduce not only emissions but also the costs. The result of their calculations is that, after 15 years of operations, the cumulative costs of a gas feeded propulsive system would be about $1 million lower than a conventional propulsion system ones
Shippingonline
October 23th 2008 - Shipowners criticise IMO sulphur caps
The European Community Shipowners' Association (ECSA) has declared to be puzzled when a sudden 0.1% sulphur level by 2015 appeared for Emission Control Areas. For this matter, ECSA had arranged to meet representatives of the European Commission's transport and environment directorates next month (November 7) in order to discuss the threat of the move away from short sea shipping to the roads as a result of the IMO's drive towards tighter limits on the sulphur content of marine fuel.
The impact of switching to distillate fuel to comply with new caps could double fuel costs and increase freight rates by 50%.
In Emission Control Areas (ECAs), which include some north European waters, the current 1.50% sulphur limit will drop to 1.00% in July 2010 and to 0.10% in January 2015.
The shipping association Interferry has already warned that the a 0.10% fuel sulphur limit in ECAs could cost ferry operators in Northern Europe an extra $7 billion in fuel costs, triggering a shift away from sea transport.
Bunkerworld
October 23th 2008 - Fuel saving system installed on passenger ship
Wartsila has reported it has secured its first installation of the electric propulsion Low Loss Concept (LLC) in a passenger vessel. The system was developed by Wartsila to save on fuel and installation costs, as well as to reduce emissions and the amount of space required for component installation. They announced that LLC can reduce electrical losses by 3%, and this means good fuel savings and less pollution.
The system also provides improved health, safety and environmental (HSE) performance through fewer components, lower pollution and higher system redundancy. LLC combined with the smokeless operation of common-rail engines offers significant benefits to any shipowner operating in environmentally sensitive areas.
Bunkerworld
October 10th 2008 - GHG discussion stalled at IMO
IMO appears to have made limited progress on the development of mandatory regime to control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping.
In the discussions during the final plenary session of the IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) the subject of market based, or economic instruments was introduced including an emissions trading scheme (ETS) and a bunker levy.
The session also saw a return of the battle regarding the principle of equal application to all ships irrespective of flag, which China in particular continues to resist. Less developed countries want the "common but differentiated responsibilities" principle enshrined in both the UNFCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) and Kyoto Protocol to guide the IMO regulation on GHG emissions from ships.
The GHG working group meeting this week had made good progress on developing a mandatory CO2 Design Index for new ships.
As the discussion stalled on this point, the MEPC agreed that another GHG Intersessional meeting will be held during March 9-13, 2009. The IMO has been hoping to adopt a binding instrument regarding GHG emissions from ships at MEPC 59, to be held in July 2009. Failing that, regulation of GHG from ships is likely to move forward in other bodies. The European Union in particular has been sending strong signals that it wants to set limits on the sector's GHG emissions by, and quite possible include shipping in its ETS.
Bunkerworld
October 9th 2008 - MEPC adopts MARPOL Annex VI revision
The revision of MARPOL Annex VI and the NOx Technical Code has been formally adopted by the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
MEPC chairman Andreas Chrysostomou hailed the event as a "magnificent and monumental adoption" of the IMO regulation that addresses air pollution from ships.
The final draft was broadly in line with the consensus agreement reached at MEPC in April this year, bringing in global standards that will significantly reduce harmful emissions from ships. Shipowners, ship operators, marine diesel engine manufacturers, marine fuel suppliers and several associated industries will be affected by the changes, which call for a gradual reduction in allowable ship emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). MO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos said achieving consensus on the revised regulation proved the ability of the IMO to focus and produce relevant global regulatory instruments.
The success story of the MARPOL Annex VI revision boded well for the IMO's on-going efforts to address shipping's greenhouse gas emissions. The revised MARPOL Annex VI will enter into force on July 1, 2010.
Bunkerworld
October 6th 2008 - Revised MARPOL Annex VI implementation delayed
A Japanese proposal to delay the entry into force of the revised MARPOL Annex VI and the NOx Technical Code has received full support at the opening of the 58th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 58) meeting in London this week.
It suggested to move the implementation date from March 1, 2010 to July 1, 2010 because it "considers that at least two sessions of MEPC after adoption would be necessary, as it would be very difficult to examine, develop and finalize the technically detailed instruments in one session only."
It said the slight delay, while not affecting the "balance of the package agreed at MEPC 57" would help "ensure global unified and smooth implementation without confusion."
The delegation from Norway, noting Japan's commitment to the overall revised text of MARPOL Annex VI, said it considered it a "minor change" that would allow for a more "robust" regulation, and gave it full support. Delegations from Ireland, China, South Korea, France, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Brazil also expressed full support for the Japanese proposal.
It means the sulphur limit in existing emission control areas (ECAs) will fall from the current 1.50% to 1.00% on July 1, 2010.
Bunkerworld
October 5th 2008 - A new battery-supplied electric-yacht
At Genoa Boat Show has been presented in world premiere the first hybrid diesel-electric yacht over 20 meters in length, the Long Range 23 Zero Emission Mode, the newest from Mochi Craft shipyards (Ferretti Group). A carpet of grass complete with large plastic sunflowers stressed the propulsive ecological solution. The boat, 90 tons of tonnage, has nine hoursof navigational autonomy completely silent and electric with lithium-ion batteries, rechargeable for only 20 euro in about 10 hours with a standard outlet connected to the network.
The autonomy of cruising with the diesel is more than a thousand miles to 10-11 knots. The yacht, so far unique in the world, can work in five different modes: diesel engines with common rail latest 550 or 800 HP; diesel with recharge of the batteries; plug in, when the battery charge is performed during stops in port; diesel- electric and electric power without emissions of CO2 in the atmosphere. Long-Range 23 was the first craft to obtain RINA certification Green Star Clean Energy and Clean Propulsion, most severe environmental certification standards applicable to the craft.
Shippingonline
October 3rd 2008 - Ships are 'dangerous and pervasive sources of pollution
Large ocean-going ships in the United States emit the same amount of particulate matter as 120 coal-fired power plants, according to a new report released by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).
The findings revealed that large ocean-going ships, such as cruise ships and container ships, emit around 54,000 tonnes of particulate matter (pm) and 745,000 tonnes of nitrogen oxides (NOx), the equivalent to NOx emissions from 94 coal-fired power plants, noted the report.
Ocean-going ships were also found to be responsible for about 3% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and emit nearly 40% of all sulphur dioxide emitted by the transportation sector.
The report makes a recommendation that protective policy action must considered at the forthcoming IMO MEPC meeting.
Bunkerworld
October 3rd 2008 - MEPC to discuss ECA criteria next week
The 58th session of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) will hear submissions next week on criteria for designating new emission control areas (ECAs). The MEPC meeting, being held in London from October 6-10, is due to formally adopt far-reaching revisions to the IMO's ship emission regulation, MARPOL Annex VI, agreed at MEPC 57 in April this year. The revised Annex VI will reduce the sulphur limit in ECAs from 1.50% at present to 1.00% in March 2010 and then to 0.10% from the start of 2015. Globally, the current 4.50% sulphur limit will fall to 3.50% in 2012, and then to 0.50% in 2020 or 2025 subject to a review in 2018. So far, only the Baltic Sea and part of the North Sea and the English channel have obtained ECA status under MARPOL Annex VI. Meanwhile, the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) and the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA) have made submissions calling for regional low sulphur fuel availability to be considered in the criteria for setting up new ECAs. A proliferation of ECAs would lead to a significant increase in demand for low sulphur marine fuels: the refining industry has warned that, even for the current ECA, sufficient supply could be problematic when the limit falls to 0.10% in 2015. The MEPC will discuss whether GHG regulations for ships should be part of MARPOL Annex VI, or be treated separately.
Bunkerworld
October 3rd 2008 - RINA launches new voluntary "green" certification
Genoa-based classification agency RINA has announced a new class notation to assess how environmentally friendly a ship is. The voluntary and goal-based Class Green Plus notation will be based on an environmental performance index which includes all areas of a ship's impact on the environment, including gas emissions. The Green Plus can be considered the new generation of Green Star, the notation that currently already anticipates the requirements of MARPOL. Class Green Plus however, is slated to go one step further by certifying those units that make significant investments in new solutions for design, equipment on board and operational procedures that contribute to an improvement in environmental performance beyond the minimum required by existing legislation.
These design solutions and on-board equipment would include anything which reduces the risk of pollution, or which lowers fuel consumption and air emissions. Examples include innovative engine design, alternative fuels, high-efficiency propellers, optimal hull design and the use of biodegradable oils. Operational procedures covered by a Green Plus notation include voyage planning programmes resulting in reduced fuel consumption and emissions, or training courses designed to increase the environmental awareness of officers and crews.
Bunkerworld
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