Regulation or Innovation: Both sides of the debate from Carbon Positive and BIMCO - Clean Air at Sea

Posted August 12 - Clean Air at Sea
Regulation or Innovation: Both sides of the debate from Carbon Positive and BIMCO

The likelihood of additional emissions regulations that will impact the marine industry has started a lively debate. Each company within the industry has its’ own opinions on global warming and the real impact of ship emissions. Industry organizations, such as BIMCO or INTERTANKO, have their positions, as do NGOs, such as Friends of the Earth, who have their own agendas, separate and normally in direct opposition to the industry. There are firms manufacturing technology, like STI, Ecospec, or engine makers such as Wartsila, that have invested millions of dollars in to research and development of technology solutions, each of whom believes that their technology is the best solution to the problem. There are also firms who have a vested interest in regulatory action, such as Carbon Positive, who advocate market-based approaches and have invested in the enforcement and implementation mechanisms of emissions control. Finally, the politicians ultimately are the ones who have the final say, whether good or bad for the industry.
Complete Story at:
http://www.cleanairatsea.com/2010/08/12/regulation-or-innovation-both-sides-of-the-debate-from-carbon-positive-and-bimco/

Labor to increase pollution fines - HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS WORLDWIDE

Posted - Wednesday, 18 August 2010 - HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS WORLDWIDE

CANBERRA will announce tough new penalties for shipping companies guilty of polluting water if Labor is re-elected. The companies would face fines of up to $10 million and prison terms of up to 10 years Transport Minister Anthony Albanese will unveil measures to toughen the maritime laws, increasing fines from $275,000 to $10m for businesses found to have discharged oil into the sea.
The plan would also create an offense of negligent navigation if ships were operated in a way that could pollute the marine environment.
This offense would carry sentences of up to 10 years in prison for individuals and $2.2m fines, as well as $5.5m fines for companies. The measures would be accompanied by amendments to the government's central piece of environmental law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, 1999.
The legislation has been reviewed by former senior public servant and diplomat Allan Hawke, and the amendments would be included in the government's response to that.
The review, commissioned by the government, also proposes a "greenhouse trigger" requiring the Environment Minister's approval for projects that would produce more than 50,000 tonnes of carbon.
That plan originated in a private member's bill Mr Albanese moved when Labor was in opposition. Australia depends on seaborne trade for imports and exports, with more than 4000 cargo vessels navigating its waters annually.
Complete story at:
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=116056&Itemid=79

Maersk switches fuel to reduce pollution - Fish Info & Services Co.Ltd (FIS)

Posted - Thursday, August 12, 2010, 15:50 (GMT + 9) Fish Info & Services Co.Ltd (FIS)

Maersk Line is working to limit emissions of unhealthy sulfur oxides in populated coastal areas. The new voluntary fuel switch in Houston, Texas, follows a similar initiative in California.
Starting this August, Maersk Line vessels will switch to low-sulfur fuel as they approach Houston, Texas. This is the first extended use of low-sulfur fuels in the region.
At least 24 nautical miles from the shore, the ships’ engines will be running on cleaner fuel, which in turn means that Maersk Line tries to address an environmental issue facing the industry world wide: Emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particles that affect human health and cause acid rain.
Maersk Line is the first to switch in the Gulf of Mexico, and the current initiative follows a similar voluntary program in California, which, since its inception in March 2006, has resulted in praise to Maersk Line from both government and environmental organizations.
Moving on to Texas is all about raising the bar, according to Maersk Line’s North America’s Director of Environment, Lee Kindberg.
“In 2009, California made fuel switching mandatory for all vessels. By then, Maersk Line had previous experience gained without regulatory pressure,” she says.

Complete Story at:
http://www.fis.com/fis/worldnews/worldnews.asp?monthyear=&day=12&id=37667&l=e&special=&ndb=1%20target=

Program Update: Proposal of Emission Control Area to Reduce Emissions from Ships in the U.S. Caribbean - EPA

Regulatory Announcement - Published by the EPA

The United States has submitted a proposal to the International Maritime Organization to designate an area off the coasts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in which stringent international emission controls would apply to engines and fuels on ships operating in the area. When adopted, this control program would dramatically reduce air pollution from ships and deliver substantial benefits to the population of those U.S. territories, as well as to marine and terrestrial ecosystems. This fact sheet contains an overview of the proposal.
Complete EPA Regulatory Announcement at:
http://www.epa.gov/oms/regs/nonroad/marine/ci/420f10041.pdf

State-of-the-art Ship docks in Ireland - HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS WORLDWIDE

Posted - Monday, 16 August 2010 - HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS WORLDWIDE

he world’s most innovative cargo ship E-Ship 1 docked in Dublin Port to deliver a cargo of wind turbines for Castledockrell Wind Farm in Wexford. The E-Ship 1 is remarkable in many aspects and represents a full scale demonstration of numerous innovations to make cargo ships more energy efficient and economic. The most visible characteristic of the ship are four about 27m tall cylinders, which are rotating at variable speed to create lift on the cylinder body, supporting the ship-like sails.
Burke Shipping Group was in charge of handling the ship on her maiden mooring in Ireland. Commenting on the arrival of E-Ship 1, a spokesperson from the company said 'Burke Shipping Group are delighted to be entrusted with handling the m/v E-ship 1 in Dublin on behalf of Enercon. Enercon are a very valued customer of the group and we look forward to many more calls of the vessel.'
He went on to say 'Burke shipping group are a leader in handling Wind Turbines in Ireland, with a dedicated team of professionals trained in handling Turbine equipment. We have handled Turbine equipment in Belfast, Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Fenit, Foynes and Killybegs over the last number of years.'
The E-Ships so-called “Magnus Effect” also give a spinning soccer ball a bent flight path during a corner kick in lay-person's terms. Due to the rotating cylinders, a highly efficient diesel-electric drive – including a steam turbine for exhaust heat, a special aerodynamic hull, an innovative propeller design and other improvements – the ship is expected to reduce fuel consumption significantly.
The two electric ship motors are modified Enercon wind turbine synchronous generators. The E-Ship 1 is 130m long and due to its optimised, flexibly adjustable cargo bay, able to load many more wind turbine components than a conventional cargo ship. On its first regular journey it is delivering nine Enercon E-70 wind turbines including tower parts and blades for Castledockrell Wind Farm, currently under construction in Co Wexford.
Complete Story at:
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=115724&Itemid=94

Biofuels present problems for marine transport, handling and storage - HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS WORLDWIDE

Posted August 9, 2010 - HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS WORLDWIDE

The production and use of biofuels for transport has increased dramatically in recent years and is set to continue, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and meeting growing consumer demand. As most biofuels will be transported by sea, the industry needs to take stock of its growing experience of what can go wrong aboard ship and develop safe and efficient shipping, loading, handling and storage practices Demand for biodiesel is expected to grow at an estimated annual compound rate of 15 per cent, rising from 20 million metric tonnes in 2010 to 45 million tonnes in 2015. Global biodiesel and ethanol sales could reach US$ 247 billion by 2020, up from US$ 76 billion predicted for 2010. In the first half of 2008/2009, about 670 million litres of biofuels were supplied to the UK transport market, with 92 per cent (about 616 million litres) imported.
The UK Government is stepping up its targets for forecourt sales of fuels from renewable sources to five per cent by 2013/14. The EU Renewable Energy directive would like it to be more as new sustainable biofuels come to market. By 2030, Lloyd’s Register predicts global demand for 100 million tonnes of biofuel, requiring an extra 400 handysize tankers to transport it.
The situation is reviewed in Biofuels: marine transport, handling and storage issues, prepared by The Carefully To Carry Committee and published by the UK P&I Club...
Complete Story at:
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=114724&Itemid=95

Cleaning up shipping’s act - Baird Maritime

Posted - Tuesday, 03 August 2010 06:51 - Baird Maritime - Nazery Khalid

Pollutants from ships, which include greenhouse gases (GHG), ballast water containing invasive alien species, paint from the hull coating, oil, chemicals, garbage, sewage and noise, can pollute the seas and the atmosphere.
Given that shipping is at the forefront of world trade and has extensive links with many economic activities, the industry has a huge responsibility to clean up its act and contribute to global efforts to curb carbon emissions.
In addition to emissions from ships, the risk of pollution from cargo has also increased in tandem with rising global trade, much of which is facilitated by seaborne transport. The recent collision involving an oil tanker in Singapore Strait which spilled 2,500 toness of crude oil into the sea further underscores the importance of protecting the marine environment from pollution from ships. One shudders to think of the catastrophic impact should an incident the magnitude of Exxon Valdez were to happen in busy chokepoints like the Straits of Malacca.
Navigation safety, which has long been a main concern in sea lines of communications like the Straits of Malacca and Straits of Hormuz, has become a matter of tremendous importance as shipping activities increase. Protecting these sealanes from pollution and the ill-effects of accidents involving merchant vessels is a pivotal concern not only to coastal/littoral states bordering them but to the international community. Should shipping traffic in vital sealanes be interrupted due to shipping-related incidents, the adverse effects to trade could spread far and wide.
Shipping and emissions : Cleaning up its act

Complete Story at:
http://www.bairdmaritime.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7482:cleaning-up-shippings-act-&catid=98:full-speed-ahead&Itemid=122

Siemens backs concepts and solutions for sustainable ship operation - HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS WORLDWIDE

Posted - Tuesday, 03 August 2010 - HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS WORLDWIDE (Source: Manufacturing.Net)

Rising costs, greater competitive pressure and ever stricter environmental regulations are driving new developments in shipping and shipbuilding that are designed to protect the environment and increase energy efficiency. Profitable trading and environmental compatibility are not mutually exclusive, but a competitive factor. Siemens Marine Solutions will be showcasing solutions for shipyards and ship operators at the SMM 2010 Trade Fair, under the motto "Navigate to new horizons - Get on course with green returns", that will sustainably increase the environmental compatibility and commercial efficiency of overall shipping operations. Siemens is presenting EcoMain, the first technical and economical operational management system that helps ship operators and shipping companies to optimize their use of energy and resources in a wide range of on-board processes.
Complete Story at:
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=113806&Itemid=79

Maritime Industry Faced with New Proposals for Regulating Air and Water Discharges As a Result of Environmental Group Action; Comment Opportunities Limited Maritime and Environmental, Land and Natural Resources Alert - K&L Gates

Posted - by Susan B. Geiger, Barry M. Hartman, Stephen P. Roberts, Christopher R. Tate . July 28, 2010 - K&L Gates - Newstand

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is continuing its efforts to expand and change how it regulates the environmental impact of maritime operations. One effort addresses water pollution issues while vessels are underway, while the other addresses air pollution issues when at shore. The water pollution proposal seeks comments on whether it should grant a request for rulemaking that seeks to vastly change and upgrade marine sanitation devices. Comments are due by November 9, 2010. In the air pollution proposal, the agency plans to settle a lawsuit by proposing that it reconsider its current regulations of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) emitted from tank vessel loading operations. Comments in this proposal settlement are due by August 13, 2010. Both initiatives were triggered by environmental groups. This alert discusses each of these new initiatives.[1]
Potential New Requirements for Marine Sanitation Devices
Asserting that current marine sanitation devices (“MSDs”) are inadequate to protect U.S. waters, Friends of the Earth ("FOE") filed a petition in April 2009 with EPA, asking the agency to require substantial changes in the standards governing discharges from MSDs.[2] Based on information gathered several years ago from a voluntary sampling program by cruise ships in Alaskan waters, FOE supports its petition by noting “the average concentration of fecal coliform in MSD effluent exceeded the [current] EPA standard by 10,200 times.” The agency is now asking for industry comments on the petition and whether it should begin a rulemaking to change standards governing MSDs.[3]
Complete story at:
http://www.klgates.com/newsstand/detail.aspx?publication=6575

Clean air awards go to five maritime and cargo firms at ports - Dailybreeze.com

Posted - By Art Marroquin Staff Writer - Posted: 07/29/2010 05:25:24 PM PDT
Updated: 07/29/2010 05:38:28 PM PDT - Dailybreeze.com

Five maritime and cargo companies serving the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach were recognized Thursday for helping improve air quality in the San Pedro Bay.
Winners of the ports' third annual Clean Air Action Plan Air Quality Awards were recognized for voluntarily complying with efforts to reduce port emissions.
The program was created to recognize companies that help meet the ports' joint Clean Air Action Plan, which was adopted in 2006 to reduce emissions from ships, trucks, trains and other equipment used for port operations.
"It's this kind of forward thinking that has helped our ports significantly reduce air emissions, modernize facilities and cultivate new technologies that help ensure good jobs and a brighter future for millions of people," said Geraldine Knatz, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles.
California Cartage Co., one of the nation's largest drayage trucking companies serving the twin ports, received the "Air Quality Leadership at the Corporate Level" award for operating nearly half its truck fleet on liquefied natural gas rather than diesel fuel, while upgrading the rest of its big rigs.
Matson Navigation Company: Matson, a marine terminal operator at the Port of Long Beach, also received the "Air Quality Leadership at the Corporate Level" award for voluntarily retrofitting one of its ships to plug into shore-side electrical power while berthed, along with meeting other "green" goals.
Complete Story at:
http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_15633215

Grant to Reduce Emissions at Port of Pittsburgh - Marinelink.com

Posted - Friday, July 30, 2010 - Marinelink.com

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded a $1,156,838 grant to the Port of Pittsburgh Commission on July 28 to oversee extensive repowering of four marine towing vessels with new, more efficient diesel engines and generators that will reduce air pollution, improve air quality and lessen overall environmental impacts. The grant was awarded under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act.
“Putting clean diesel engines in these hard-working marine vessels will bring cleaner, healthier air for communities along the Port’s 200-miles of navigable waterways,” said EPA mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin.
EPA and the Port were joined by the Allegheny County Health Department, the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP), Clean Water Action Network, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and representatives from the three cooperating companies - - Campbell Transportation Company, Consol Energy and River Salvage, Inc.
Complete Story at:
http://www.marinelink.com/news/pittsburgh-emissions335079.aspx