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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
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