Challenges in Reducing Pollution From Ships - New York Times/Green Inc. Column

Published: New York Times - April 25, 2010 - By BETTINA WASSENER
HONG KONG — When a pollution index hit a record level last month in Hong Kong, there were plenty of culprits to blame.
Fingers were pointed, in descending order, at a sandstorm sweeping in from mainland China; at the factory-studded Chinese province of Guangdong just across the border; and at Hong Kong’s home-grown fumes, mainly from vehicles and power stations.
Remarkably little mention was made of emissions from shipping.
Which is strange. After all, Hong Kong sits alongside one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. And the fuel being burned by the scores of freighters heading to and from Hong Kong and the nearby Pearl River Delta every day is nasty stuff indeed. Bunker fuel is a viscous and highly polluting substance left over from refining oil. It has high nitrogen oxide contents and contains as much as 4.5 percent sulfur, making the exhausts especially noxious for those who inhale them....
Balance of article at -
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/26/business/energy-environment/26iht-green.html?src=busln