Ingram Barge cuts towboat emissions - Marine Log

Posted September 28, 2010 - Marine Log


Officials of Ingram Barge Company and the Mississippi River Corridor - Tennessee (MRCT) today announced the results of an air emissions reduction program for towboats operating on the Mississippi River.
Funding for this effort was awarded to MRCT by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of the Clean Diesel Emerging Technologies Program.
Ingram participated in the program by retrofitting six towboats with diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) units and closed crank case emission control system. The device fits inside the exhaust system of a towboat engine and reduces the amount of pollution resulting from burning diesel fuel. The DOC units were manufactured by Environmental Solutions Worldwide Inc., a retrofit technology provider. Testing of the units was performed by Emisstar, an energy and emissions consultancy.
Mississippi River Corridor - Tennessee is a non-profit organization that works on economic development and land and wildlife preservation in the six West Tennessee counties that border the Mississippi River.
Today, an Ingram towboat, the Motor Vessel Patricia I. Hart, which is equipped with the new DOC system, was available for public inspection at Mud Island River Park at 101 North Island Drive.
Representatives from the project partners reported significant reductions in particulates, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons from exhaust emissions from the retrofitted vessels. Emissions testing has shown that the new DOC systems exhibited average particulate matter reductions of more than 40 percent and carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon reductions of more than 60 percent.

Complete story at:
http://www.marinelog.com/DOCS/NEWSMMIX/2010sep00240.html

Hamburg Süd supporting tests with low-sulphur fuel in Santos and the Gulf of Mexico - Hamburg Sud

Posted - Hamburg, 27 September 2010 - Hamburg Sud (home page)

For the second time this year, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with the support of Hamburg Süd, has been able to generate important data on possible contaminant reductions in marine shipping.
In late August 2010, Low Sulfur Marine Gas Oil (LSMGO), a fuel with a sulfur content of 0.1 per cent, was used on the container ship “Cap San Lorenzo” – deployed in the service between US Gulf and Caribbean/South America East Coast – while the vessel was entering and departing the port of Santos. According to the EPA, it was the first test of this kind to take place in Santos.
The use of LSMGO had previously been tested on the “Cap San Lorenzo” in April 2010 in the ports of Veracruz, Altamira and Houston, in the Gulf of Mexico.
“We recognize and applaud the efforts of fleet owners, such as Hamburg Süd, who voluntarily engage in emissions reduction strategies like fuel switching,“ said Gina McCarthy, U.S. EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. “EPA estimates that a ship can achieve a 95% reduction in sulfur dioxides and an 85% reduction in fine particulates when lower sulfur fuels are used. “

Complete Story at:
http://www.hamburgsud.com/WWW/EN/Corporate_Communications/News/News_Detail.jsp?oid=14917

Why reception facilities matter - BIMCO

Posted September 27, 2010 - BIMCO

The Marine Pollution Convention is an international treaty that helps to keep the seas clean, regularly kept up to date and enhanced to take into account all the substances, from oil to garbage, that might pollute the sea. All ships must comply with the provisions of the convention and its protocols, and the marine environment is far cleaner as a result.
But there is no getting away from the fact that ships do generate their own polluting substances, from waste oil and oily water mixtures that are left over from lubricating and fueling the ship, to the garbage that is generated by the crew and passengers. In a big passenger ship, there is sewage and “grey water” that has to be dealt with.
Ships, which many years ago would have merely tipped these wastes into the sea, now have to retain them on board. Many vessels, especially modern passenger ships, are very expert at treating these wastes, compacting solid wastes, incinerating that which could be burned, saving up what can be recycled and treating sewage. In fact, ships are far more “self-contained” than they ever have been, and most ships will carefully segregate their wastes aboard ship.
But they still need to offload waste materials when they reach harbor, and under the terms of the MARPOL Convention, ports have an obligation to have available waste reception facilities, to hopefully provide these at a reasonable price, and to ensure that the wastes a ship wishes to land are dealt with.
Sadly, all too many ports are failing in their obligations in this respect, either by not having the necessary reception facilities or making it costly or inconvenient to deal with them. This places an unfair burden upon ships, which have to retain their wastes for longer than they might wish, and upon other compliant ports, who end up having to receive more than they might if all ports played their part in this important process.
There is little, it seems, that can be done to persuade these recalcitrant ports to provide themselves with adequate reception facilities. BIMCO closely monitors the situation, voices its concerns at IMO and uses its high level contacts with administrations to encourage their ports to provide a proper service to ships. Eventually, perhaps, there will be a far higher degree of self containment, but oily and solid wastes, food waste and recyclables will require the use of reception facilities for the foreseeable future.

https://www.bimco.org/en/Corporate/Education/Seascapes/Sea_View/Why_reception_facilities_matter.aspx

UK’s shipping emissions six times higher than expected says new report - The University of Manchester

Posted - September 23 2010 - The University of Manchester

Carbon dioxide emissions produced by UK shipping could be up to six times higher than currently calculated, according to new research from The University of Manchester.

The shipping industry is under the microscope

As the shipping industry’s emissions are predicted to continue to grow in the future, the UK will fail to meet its commitment to avoid dangerous climate change if additional cuts are not made to other sectors.
According to a University of Manchester study, the global shipping industry, despite being traditionally viewed as one of the most energy efficient means of transport, releases increasing amounts of harmful emissions into the atmosphere every year.
Indeed, as the rest of the world strives to avoid dangerous climate change, the global shipping industry’s carbon emissions could account for almost all of the world’s emissions by 2050 if current rates of growth – fueled by globalization – continue.
This new report refocuses attention from the global efforts to reduce shipping emissions down to a national scale, and questions if the UK has a role in influencing its share of the CO2 emissions produced.
The dramatic change in the estimate of CO2 from UK shipping is based on the fact that, up until now, the UK’s emissions are calculated using international bunker fuel sales – that is fuel purchased at UK ports.
But, according to the report, this is a misleading statistic as the majority of vessels refuel at nearby ports, such as Rotterdam in Holland, where prices are more competitive.
Researchers at The University of Manchester show that the level of CO2 emissions released by commercial ships involved with UK trade provides a fairer representation of UK shipping emissions than fuel sold.
If this representation were to be adopted, the UK’s CO2 emissions allocated to shipping would increase significantly – and possibly to a higher level than the amount of CO2 released by UK aviation.
Greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping activity currently account for around 3% of total global emissions.
On the basis of its international bunker fuel sales, UK international shipping emissions for 2006 were around seven mega-tonnes of carbon dioxide (7 MtCO2).
However the report, prepared by researchers at the Tyndall Center for Climate Change Research and the Sustainable Consumption Institute, claims it is fairer to calculate UK emissions on the basis of shipped goods exported from or imported into the UK. On this basis, UK emissions rise considerably to 31 or 42 MtCO2 respectively.
Dr Paul Gilbert, Lecturer in Climate Change at the Tyndall Center for Climate Change Research, said: “Tackling climate change requires urgent emission reductions across all sectors.
“Unfortunately up until now, global efforts to reduce shipping emissions have been slow, and are not keeping up with the pace of growth of the sector.
“This report explores the potential for the UK to take national measures to reduce its share of shipping emissions to complement any future global or EU action.”
The report also examines the role the shipping sector should play in overall emissions reduction. Dangerous climate change is generally accepted to be an increase in global average temperature of greater than 2ºC above pre-industrial levels.
To have a reasonable chance of avoiding dangerous climate change, global emissions must fall steeply out to 2050. Indeed, the report suggests that the UK should, in advance of EU or global action, consider a unilateral adjustment to its carbon budgets to reflect its share of international shipping emissions.

Complete Story at:
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/news/display/?id=6121

CO2 control measures high on agenda at IMO environment meeting - HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS WORLDWIDE

Posted - Saturday, 25 September 2010 - HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS WORLDWIDE

The reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from international shipping will be a major focus for the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), when it meets for its 61st session from 27 September to 1 October, 2010 at the IMO Headquarters in London. Also high on the agenda will be the expected adoption of the revised Annex III of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), covering pollution from packaged goods, and consideration of issues relating to the implementation of the ballast water management and ship recycling conventions.
Measures to address GHG from ships.
The MEPC is expected to consider the approval of technical and operational measures to reduce CO2 emissions from international shipping (specifically, the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP)) as mandatory measures, possibly as amendments to MARPOL Annex VI Regulations for the prevention of air pollution from ships, with the type and size of vessel to which they will apply also to be agreed.
The Committee will additionally discuss further work concerning market-based measures, including the possible development of a mandatory IMO instrument.
A working group on GHG issues will be convened during the session to refine the regulatory text implementing the technical and operational measures as mandatory standards, as well as the formulas and guidelines supporting the regulatory text.

Complete story at:
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=122423&Itemid=94

Be sure to strictly comply with US environmental laws - BIMCO

Posted September 2010 - BIMCO

According to a press release from the US Department of Justice, on 21 September, a Panamanian ship management company was sentenced to pay a USD 4 million penalty for deliberate pollution and obstruction of justice. The company was also sentenced to serve the maximum of five years’ probation, subject to following a compliance programe that includes audits by an independent firm and oversight by a court appointed monitor.
The sentence followed a guilty plea by the company in July relating to a number of felony violations of the US Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, notably by deliberately discharging inter alia waste oil overboard, through a bypass hose that circumvented pollution prevention equipment required by law, and obstructing justice based upon false statements to the Coast Guard, destruction of evidence and other acts of concealment.
BIMCO is determined to raise awareness among members to ensure compliance with US environmental laws, including rules on oily water separators and oil record books, with a view to avoiding problems in relation to port calls in the US. Members are therefore suggested to seek guidance on visiting US ports and on US port State control inspections generally in BIMCO's updated Guide to Port State Control Inspections.
A Guide has also been produced in co-operation with the US Chamber of Shipping regarding the US Vessel General Permit (VGP). The purpose of the Guide is to provide guidelines for the crew so that they avoid unnecessary problems in relation to the VPG when calling at US ports or entering US waters.
In November, BIMCO will publish a similar guide to the new inspection regime in the Paris MoU which will come into force on 1 January 2011. This guide will include information on the new rules and how they will impact port State control and ship reporting obligations.
https://www.bimco.org/Members/News/General_News/2010/09/22_US_environmental_laws.aspx

Editors note:
Fleet owners using the Maritime Compliance Systems (MCS) developed by Quantum Compliance System can meet the requirement of the VGP as:
MCS - Performs all activities required to comply with the U.S. EPA's new Vessel General Permit (VGP) MCS allows users to track all aspects of this new regulation including:

* Permit Specifications
* Inspections and Monitoring Requirements
* Record-keeping and Reporting
* VGP Corrective Actions for any violation
* Training Requirements as defined by the VGP regulations

UN high level advisory group considers shipping as funding mechanism for climate change financing - BIMCO

Posted - September 2010 - BIMCO

The considerations regarding future GHG regulation of shipping are ongoing not only in IMO and UNFCCC, but also in a special High-level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing (AGF) established by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and here shipping is being looked upon as one of the potential sources of revenue.
With this background, the BIMCO President Robert Lorenz-Meyer has found it necessary to approach the Co-Chair of the AGF and Premier Minister of Norway Jens Stoltenberg to express some concerns and considerations on behalf of BIMCO’s members. Note that the AGF will present its recommendation at the climate summit in Mexico in December 2010 (COP 16).
The main points in the letter are that shipping accepts a burden that is commensurate to its share of the problem and would like to avoid being targeted as a source of funding but more be seen as an indispensable facilitator of world trade and growth. It is stressed that shipping is responsible for around 3% of global GHG emissions today and carries some 80-90% of world trade. These figures reflect that shipping is the most energy efficient mode of transportation per ton-mile.

Complete article at:
https://www.bimco.org/Members/News/General_News/2010/09/21_Stoltenberg.aspx

Air Emission Regulation Update - MarineLink.com

Posted 15 September 2010 - MarineLink.com

In March this year, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposal to designate waters off the North American coasts as an Emission Control Area was adopted by IMO, the International Maritime Organization. The North American ECA is a key part of a comprehensive EPA program to address harmful emissions from large ships. Which are the time schedules of upcoming emission regulations? How are marine engine manufacturers preparing for the tighter air emission limits being adopted? Henrik Segercrantz explores.
The North American 200 nautical mile Emission Control Area for sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) will also include Canada's Pacific and Atlantic coasts, the South coast of Alaska, and Hawaii.
The latest component of EPA’s coordinated strategy for addressing emissions from ocean-going vessels is a proposal, from August this year, to designate an Emission Control Area for the U.S. Caribbean. The United States submitted a proposal to IMO in advance of the September 2010 IMO meeting, requesting that waters around the coasts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands be designated as an ECA.
Other EPA programs to address harmful emissions in the U.S. include voluntary partnerships under EPA’s Clean Ports USA program and implementation of a Clean Air Act rule-making that EPA finalized last December.
The first designated ECA areas, governed by IMOs revised Annex VI (Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL convention), were those of the Baltic Sea and the North Sea area, which also includes the English Channel. The revised Annex VI allows for ECAs to be designated for SOx and particulate matter, or NOx, or all three types of emissions from ships. The regulations implementing the new North American ECA are expected to enter into force in August 2011, with the ECA becoming effective from August 2012.

Complete Story at:
http://www.marinelink.com/news/regulation-emission335515.aspx

Energy efficiency ratings cutting costs, and emissions - Peter Boyd, Director of Operations, Carbon War Room. Article arranged by Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

Posted Tuesday, 21 September 2010 - Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

It is thirteen years since the IMO began investigating shipping's contribution to climate change. This month, nation states will send their delegates to the IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), where an expert group is due to report on market based instruments to reduce emissions. Progress on this is welcome, but with no guidance from the UNFCCC process on shipping's role in global emissions talks, the IMO is very unlikely to reach any kind of decision about the levels of reductions to be imposed for the sector. Concrete results on the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) are thus important, since this will start to cure the market inefficiencies limiting the development of a lower-emissions fleet.
The EEDI is a complicated mathematical formula that provides a benchmark for an individual ship's design in terms of fuel efficiency in relation to its transport capacity. Member states agreed interim guidelines on the formula in October 2008, and since then, there has been considerable discussion on how best to apply it usefully to all vessel classes. In short-sea, for example, there are challenges with producing an accurate rating.
The shipping industry is often characterized as lukewarm towards environmental regulation. In Carbon War Room's dealings however, we have found this to be the reverse. Like many other sectors, it is also keen to have regulatory certainty to enable good investment decisions.
The EEDI is an excellent start to evaluating vessel efficiency, and though the IMO is hitherto only planning to apply it to new-builds to encourage the integration of energy efficiency measures into ship design we saw that it could be applied to the existing fleet, so that all international vessels could be viewed transparently in terms of their efficiency. Moreover, as data and the methodology improve, the ratings will be able to incorporate CO2 grams per nautical mile for vessel operation in order to stimulate investment in retrofit technologies that improve ratings.

Complete story at :
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=121633&Itemid=94

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

Published August 2010 - Office of Transportation and Air Quality EPA-420-F-10-041

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.


Overview
The United States has proposed the designation of an Emission Control Area (ECA) for specific portions of the coastal waters around Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This action would control the emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter (PM) from ships operating in the area, most of which are flagged outside of the United States. These ships are significant contributors to the Territories’ emission inventories. The ECA is expected to reduce emissions of NOx by 11,000 tons, PM2.5 by 3,300 tons, and SOx by 31,000 tons1 per year, which is 27 percent, 86 percent, and 96 percent, respectively, below levels in 2020 absent the ECA. The overall cost of the ECA is estimated at $70 million.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a specialized United Nations agency responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing pollution from ships. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a member of the U.S. delegation to the IMO and its Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC).
Footnote1 The proposal to the IMO presented emission reductions in units of metric tones (MT): 10,000 MT NOx, 3,000 MT PM2.5, and 28,000 MT SOx reduced.
The proposed ECA designation is the latest component of EPA’s coordinated strategy to address
emissions from all ships that affect U.S. air quality. For more information about other components
of the strategy, including new Clean Air Act standards and the North American ECA,
please visit EPA’s Ocean-going Vessels Web page at www.epa.gov/otaq/oceanvessels.htm.

Complete report at:
http://epa.gov/OMS/regs/nonroad/marine/ci/420f10041.pdfhttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7048304257613697692

Costs and benefits of reducing SO2 emissions from shipping in the Greek seas - EconPapers

Posted September 15, 2010 -

Ernestos Tzannatos (et@unipi.gr)
Additional contact information
Ernestos Tzannatos: Department of Maritime Studies, University of Piraeus, 40 Karaoli & Dimitriou, Piraeus 18532, Greece.

Maritime Economics and Logistics, 2010, vol. 12, issue 3, pages 280-294

Abstract: A future designation of the Mediterranean Sea as a Sulfur Emission Control Area will mandate the use of low-sulfur fuels by all shipping within the Mediterranean basin, or it will necessitate the application of SO2 exhaust emissions from shipping. According to the results of this work, it is found that international shipping within the Greek seas produces higher external (SO2 emission costs which outweigh the increase in fuel costs. This was found to be most evident in the case of international shipping, since its current fuel use within the Mediterranean is limited by the IMO global sulfur cap of 4.5 per cent, allowing for sizable desulfurization of fuel with significant impact on the private and external costs relationship. On the contrary, the impact of sulfur capping on the private and external costs associated with the domestic shipping within the Greek seas is found to be less significant, because the passenger ships which dominate domestic operations are already restricted to fuel use with 1.5 per cent sulfur by the relevant EU legislation. Finally, it is shown that for maximum reduction of SO2 emission costs from domestic (passenger) shipping within the Greek seas, the application of seawater scrubbing offers a substantially lower private cost alternative than that of using ultra-low (0.1 per cent) sulfur fuel.

Details at:
http://econpapers.repec.org/article/palmarecl/v_3a12_3ay_3a2010_3ai_3a3_3ap_3a280-294.htm

CO2 Emissions, Birth, and Death Rates - Clean Air at Sea: Working Together for a Greener Tomorrow

Posted September 14, 2010 - Clean Air at Sea: Working Together for a Greener Tomorrow

Interesting interactive Flash map from BreathingEarth.net:

http://www.breathingearth.net/

Breathing Earth is an NGO, focused on and campaigning for the reduction of GHGs in the atmosphere. This Flash map is well-designed, and will certainly make you think and ponder about emissions and global warming. It would really be interesting if it could be combined with the maritime emissions shown on the ESA map profiled earlier this year on this site, http://www.cleanairatsea.com/2010/06/24/esa-satellite-images-show-shipping-lanes-and-emissions/.
This is just a simulation, and the web site gives little information about its’data sources, but there are really no real surprises: Heavily industrialized countries are shown producing fewer GHGs and many developing or non-industrialized countries show little impact.
Why write about an NGO? Quite simple, really. Lobbying by NGOs and other organizations influence regulations and the industry. You need to know and understand the “other side’s” positions and beliefs. It’s just good business!

http://www.cleanairatsea.com/2010/09/15/co2-emissions-birth-and-death-rates/

REDUCTION OF GHG EMISSIONS FROM SHIPS - Further details on the US proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping Submitted by the United States -International Maritime Organization

Issued July 23 2010 - IMO - MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE - 61st session
Agenda item 5

Executive summary: The Technical Report attached to this document supplements the
United States' submission, document MEPC 61/5/16, providing
further details on the United States' proposal to establish efficiency
index standards for existing ships and the trading of efficiency
credits as an additional means for achieving compliance.
Document MEPC 61/5/16 provides additional details on the
proposal outlined in documents MEPC 59/4/48 and MEPC 60/4/12
(United States) which described a new approach to address
international maritime GHG emissions.

Complete Report at:
http://legacy.sname.org/committees/tech_ops/O44/imo/mepc/61-inf-24.pdf

Environmental Passport for ten percent of GL fleet - Marine-news.net

Posted September 10, 2010 - Marine-news.net

Nearly ten percent of GL's fleet in service will sail the seven seas with a class notation Environmental Passport (EP). This is a reflection of the on-going trend to further reduce the environmental implications of shipping. More and more ship owners are ordering the class notation in order to outperform international
maritime regulations such as MARPOL. "The GL class notation EP is well recognized among operators as a useful tool to underline their commitment to the protection of the maritime environment," says Ralf Plump, Head of Environmental Research at GL. The scope of issues within GL's class notation EP reflects the increasing demands by shippers and charterers to have evidence of enhanced environmental features. Environmental awareness and the use of environmental friendly equipment are not only essential for a positive image of stakeholders in the maritime industry. It appears that an environmentally sound behavior is one of the key parameter to stay in business."
EP is a voluntary class-notation for ships. All mandatory and voluntary environmental features of a vessel are compiled in a single, ready to use document including the Environmental Passport certificate, flag state certificates, compliance certificates, and NOx emission diagrams.
Mandatory requirements of EP focus on NOx Tier II emission reduction, an approved ballast water management plan, fuel oil tank protection, and for tankers a VOC - Management Plan. The Environmental Passport requires a comprehensive survey of emissions into sea related to MARPOL Annex I to Annex V which include the Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil and Regulations for the Control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk (NLS).

Complete story at:
http://www.marine-news.net/Environmental_Passport_for_ten_percent_of_GL_fleet-i18967.html

First ballast water treatment system in Finland installed in Ms Pasila - HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS WORLDWIDE

Posted September 7, 2010 - HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS WORLDWIDE

The dry bulk carrier Ms Pasila, owned by ESL Shipping, a part of the Aspo Group, has been fitted with the first ballast water treatment system in Finland. The cleaning system is used to stop harmful organisms from moving from one sea area to another. The CrystalBallast system installed in the ship has been developed by the Turku-based Auramarine Ltd, a manufacturer of fuel supply systems for ships. Auramarine is a subsidiary of Hollming Group.
ESL Shipping's Ms Pasila is the first Finnish ship to have a ballast water cleaning system installed. The CrystalBallast system, developed and installed by Auramarine Ltd, a manufacturer of fuel supply systems operating in Turku, prevents alien species from being transferred from one sea area to another, and is necessary when a ship sails between the Baltic Sea and other areas.
"Alien species moving from one sea to another pose a serious threat to the environment. By installing a ballast water cleaning system in Ms Pasila, we do our part in protecting the environment and the health of our seas," says Markus Karjalainen, President of ESL Shipping.

Complete story at:
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=119334&Itemid=79

Wallenius Marine and LNG GOT set sights on reducing shipping emissions - Maritime Information Centre, micportal.com

Posted September 1, 2010 - Maritime Information Centre, micportal.com

Wallenius Marine AB and LNG GOT AB have entered a strategic partnership to examine possibilities for using liquid natural gas (LNG) as a shipping fuel in existing and newly built vessels in the Wallenius fleet.

The study is intended to show how LNG can be used as a fuel in a manner that is economically, environmentally, publicly and commercially appealing.

“We have been using fuel that is significantly cleaner than required for some time, but it is far from being as clean as we would wish. The use of LNG as a shipping fuel will take us a step closer to our vision of having emission-free vessels. We see LNG as a stepping stone to running ships on biogas in the future,” says Per Tunell, Head of Environmental Management,Wallenius Marine.

The initiative begins immediately, with the aim that the study should be completed in 2011. The project will also examine the consequences of adapting the Wallenius’ fleet to LNG operation, as well as the supply and distribution possibilities for LNG.

“It is the long-term goal of LNG GOT to minimize the environmental impact of shipping by making LNG available as a shipping fuel. This agreement marks a significant further step towards this objective. The partnership benefits all parties involved as well as the development of Gothenburg as an energy port,” comments Magnus Witting, CEO of LNG GOT.

LNG is an attractive fuel for shipping from both technical and environmental viewpoints.

In 2015 stricter emission requirements will come into effect in Emission Control Areas (ECAs), with the effect that sulfur emissions must not exceed expected levels for fuel with a maximum sulfur content of 0.1 per cent. Apart from the fact that LNG is effectively sulfur-free and therefore complies with the forthcoming emission restrictions, LNG operation will also reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides by up to 85–90 per cent, particulates by almost 100 per cent and carbon dioxide by around 20–25 per cent in comparison with running on heavy fuel oil. These major environmental benefits also provide a good margin as stiffer emission controls are introduced.

http://www.micportal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4293:wallenius-marine-and-lng-got-set-sights-on-reducing-shipping-emissions&catid=19:vessels-equipment&Itemid=30

Towards a Zero Carbon Vision for UK Transport - Stockholm Environment Institute, Project Report - 2010

Towards a Zero Carbon Vision for UK Transport - John Whitelegg, Gary Haq,
Howard Cambridge and Harry Vallack

Executive summary - Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global average sea
level. The dominant factor in the warming of the climate in the industrial era is the increasing concentration of various greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere.

In 2006, the transport sector accounted for approximately 24 per cent (130 million tonnes) of the UK’s domestic emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) the majority of these emissions (92 per cent) coming from road transport. The 2008 Climate Change Act, commits the UK to reducing GHG emissions across the economy by at least 80 per cent (in comparison to 1990 levels) by 2050.

Complete Report can be found at:
http://sei-international.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate-mitigation-adaptation/towards-zero-carbon-vision-uk-transport-2010.pdf