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Friday, September 21, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Shipping, oil hunt may accelerate Arctic thaw - The Sydney Morning Herald
Posted - September 19, 2012 - The Sydney Morning Herald
Local pollution in the Arctic from shipping and oil and gas industries, which have expanded in the region due to a thawing of sea ice caused by global warming, could further accelerate that thaw, experts say.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said there was an urgent need to calculate risks of local pollutants such as soot, or "black carbon", in the Arctic. Soot darkens ice, making it soak up more of the sun's heat and quickening a melt.
Companies such as Shell, which this week gave up a push to find oil this year in the Chukchi Sea as the winter closed in, Exxon or Statoil say they are using the cleanest available technologies.
But the risks of even small amounts of pollution on the Arctic Ocean, emitted near ice with little dispersal by winds, have not been fully assessed.
"A lot of the concerns need urgent evaluation," said Nick Nuttall, spokesman of Naibori-based UNEP, referring to issues such as flaring of gas or fuels used by vessels in the Arctic.
"There is a grim irony here that as the ice melts...humanity is going for more of the natural resources fuelling this meltdown," he said. Large amounts of soot in the Arctic come from more distant sources such as forest fires or industry.
The extent of sea ice on the Arctic Ocean has shrunk this summer to the smallest since satellite records began in the 1970s, eclipsing a 2007 low. The melt is part of a long-term retreat blamed by a U.N. panel on man-made global warming, caused by use of fossil fuels.
"We're working to get a better documentation of the risks of black carbon in the Arctic," said Lars-Otto Reiersen, head of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), part of the Arctic Council.
An AMAP report last year said that "regulation of black carbon production from all sources, especially those resulting locally from activities in the Arctic, is required at all scales."
400 fields
More than 400 oil and gas fields within the Arctic region were developed by 2007, according to AMAP, mostly in West Siberia in Russia and in Alaska. Most of the undiscovered oil and gas is now estimated to be offshore.
Soot is an extra problem for planners, adding to risks such as of an oil blowout or a shipwreck. The U.N.'s International Maritime Organisation is trying to work out a new "Polar Code" that might tighten everything from emissions to hull standards.
Still, for shipping, use of the Arctic route may be less damaging overall in terms of global warming, including soot, since it is a short-cut between some Atlantic and Pacific ports. That means ships burn much less fuel on the route.
"We are working on the net effect of the Arctic route compared to the Suez Canal," said Jan Fuglestvedt, of the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research in Oslo.
In 2009, the Bremen-based Beluga Group sailed from South Korea to Rotterdam across the Arctic, cutting 4,000 nautical miles off the route via Suez. This year, for instance, an icebreaker became the first Chinese vessel to cross the ocean.
One study indicated that increased use of the Arctic route might limit carbon dioxide emissions for global shipping by 2.9 million tonnes a year by 2050, or 0.1 per cent, compared with use of the Suez Canal.
"If the Arctic route is really open by then it may reduce carbon emissions a bit on the global scale," said Leif Ingolf Eide, an author of the study at Norwegian-based risk management group DnV. The study did not assess soot, he said.
In a 2011 report, UNEP estimated that a global crackdown on soot, methane and ozone could slow global warming by 0.5 degree Celsius (0.9F). It would also protect human health and promote crop growth.
Almost 200 nations have agreed to limit climate change to below 2 degrees C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times, seeing it as a threshold to dangerous changes such as more droughts, floods or rising sea levels.
Post to be found at:
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/shipping-oil-hunt-may-accelerate-arctic-thaw-20120919-2655h.html
Local pollution in the Arctic from shipping and oil and gas industries, which have expanded in the region due to a thawing of sea ice caused by global warming, could further accelerate that thaw, experts say.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said there was an urgent need to calculate risks of local pollutants such as soot, or "black carbon", in the Arctic. Soot darkens ice, making it soak up more of the sun's heat and quickening a melt.
Companies such as Shell, which this week gave up a push to find oil this year in the Chukchi Sea as the winter closed in, Exxon or Statoil say they are using the cleanest available technologies.
But the risks of even small amounts of pollution on the Arctic Ocean, emitted near ice with little dispersal by winds, have not been fully assessed.
"A lot of the concerns need urgent evaluation," said Nick Nuttall, spokesman of Naibori-based UNEP, referring to issues such as flaring of gas or fuels used by vessels in the Arctic.
"There is a grim irony here that as the ice melts...humanity is going for more of the natural resources fuelling this meltdown," he said. Large amounts of soot in the Arctic come from more distant sources such as forest fires or industry.
The extent of sea ice on the Arctic Ocean has shrunk this summer to the smallest since satellite records began in the 1970s, eclipsing a 2007 low. The melt is part of a long-term retreat blamed by a U.N. panel on man-made global warming, caused by use of fossil fuels.
"We're working to get a better documentation of the risks of black carbon in the Arctic," said Lars-Otto Reiersen, head of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), part of the Arctic Council.
An AMAP report last year said that "regulation of black carbon production from all sources, especially those resulting locally from activities in the Arctic, is required at all scales."
400 fields
More than 400 oil and gas fields within the Arctic region were developed by 2007, according to AMAP, mostly in West Siberia in Russia and in Alaska. Most of the undiscovered oil and gas is now estimated to be offshore.
Soot is an extra problem for planners, adding to risks such as of an oil blowout or a shipwreck. The U.N.'s International Maritime Organisation is trying to work out a new "Polar Code" that might tighten everything from emissions to hull standards.
Still, for shipping, use of the Arctic route may be less damaging overall in terms of global warming, including soot, since it is a short-cut between some Atlantic and Pacific ports. That means ships burn much less fuel on the route.
"We are working on the net effect of the Arctic route compared to the Suez Canal," said Jan Fuglestvedt, of the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research in Oslo.
In 2009, the Bremen-based Beluga Group sailed from South Korea to Rotterdam across the Arctic, cutting 4,000 nautical miles off the route via Suez. This year, for instance, an icebreaker became the first Chinese vessel to cross the ocean.
One study indicated that increased use of the Arctic route might limit carbon dioxide emissions for global shipping by 2.9 million tonnes a year by 2050, or 0.1 per cent, compared with use of the Suez Canal.
"If the Arctic route is really open by then it may reduce carbon emissions a bit on the global scale," said Leif Ingolf Eide, an author of the study at Norwegian-based risk management group DnV. The study did not assess soot, he said.
In a 2011 report, UNEP estimated that a global crackdown on soot, methane and ozone could slow global warming by 0.5 degree Celsius (0.9F). It would also protect human health and promote crop growth.
Almost 200 nations have agreed to limit climate change to below 2 degrees C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times, seeing it as a threshold to dangerous changes such as more droughts, floods or rising sea levels.
Post to be found at:
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/shipping-oil-hunt-may-accelerate-arctic-thaw-20120919-2655h.html
EU to Present Proposal to Curb CO2 Emissions From Shipping - businessweek.com
Posted - By Ewa Krukowska on September 18, 2012- Bloomberg News
“We are including different types of measures, ranging from measurement, reporting and verification, to technical standards, to setting baselines. These options are all on the table,” Bardram said. “The ETS-type schemes are part of the options that are being considered.”
The EU emissions trading system is the world’s biggest cap- and-trade carbon market. It imposes pollution limits on about 12,000 companies and expanded this year to include flights to and from EU airports.
Global maritime transport accounts for almost 3 percent of carbon-dioxide discharges, and emissions from ships are expected to more than double by 2050, according to the commission, the Brussels-based EU regulatory arm.
“We will not introduce a maritime proposal that would be discriminatory or would result in distortions,” Bardram said. “We are responsible and at the same time we have to ensure that the European industry has a level playing field and that we’re able to incentivize early actions, that we can make things happen.”
IMO recognizes the “urgency” of the need to reduce greenhouse gases from shipping, Andreas Chrysostomou, chairman of IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee, told the conference today. The organization has already introduced mandatory efficiency measures, established a group to evaluate proposals on market-based mechanisms and wants to continue their development next year, he said.
Post to be found at:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-09-18/eu-to-present-proposal-to-curb-co2-emissions-from-shipping
The European Union will present in
the coming months a proposal to curb emissions from ships in the
absence of an international solution, a European Commission
official said.
The International Maritime Organization, created under the
United Nations system, has been unable to agree on measures to
curb emissions from ships for more than a decade. While IMO “is
the best entity to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from
international shipping” it has been slow to act, Elina Bardram,
head of the international carbon market unit at the European
Commission, told a seminar in Brussels today. “We are including different types of measures, ranging from measurement, reporting and verification, to technical standards, to setting baselines. These options are all on the table,” Bardram said. “The ETS-type schemes are part of the options that are being considered.”
The EU emissions trading system is the world’s biggest cap- and-trade carbon market. It imposes pollution limits on about 12,000 companies and expanded this year to include flights to and from EU airports.
Global maritime transport accounts for almost 3 percent of carbon-dioxide discharges, and emissions from ships are expected to more than double by 2050, according to the commission, the Brussels-based EU regulatory arm.
“We will not introduce a maritime proposal that would be discriminatory or would result in distortions,” Bardram said. “We are responsible and at the same time we have to ensure that the European industry has a level playing field and that we’re able to incentivize early actions, that we can make things happen.”
IMO recognizes the “urgency” of the need to reduce greenhouse gases from shipping, Andreas Chrysostomou, chairman of IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee, told the conference today. The organization has already introduced mandatory efficiency measures, established a group to evaluate proposals on market-based mechanisms and wants to continue their development next year, he said.
Post to be found at:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-09-18/eu-to-present-proposal-to-curb-co2-emissions-from-shipping
Alfa Laval Tumba AB: Energy Efficiency, Application Leadership & Integrated Solutions - Maritime Executive
Posted - Monday, September 17, 2012 - Maritime Executive
At this year’s SMM, Alfa Laval’s customer and press seminar included a presentation entitled “Saving energy and reducing CO2 emissions”. Niclas Dahl, Alfa Laval Marine & Diesel Equipment, discussed the shipping industry’s future fuel options with a focus on keeping operating costs at a viable level while complying with environmental regulations. René Fich Jespersen, Alfa Laval Aalborg, presented the latest Aalborg waste heat recovery products and showed the impressive fuel savings and reductions in CO2 emissions they offer when installed onboard a typical container ship.
Onboard ships throughout the world, Alfa Laval products installed in engine rooms save energy, reduce CO2 emissions and prolong engine lifetimes. The fuel treatment line, from the settling tank to the engine is one of Alfa Laval’s key focus areas and the company continuously monitors developments in the marine fuels market.
Fuel trend drivers
With increasingly stringent local and global environmental regulations, ship owners and operators are currently reviewing their future options in terms of fuel compliance strategies and new fuels are being discussed. The result is likely to be the use of lower and more variable fuel quality, with more cat fines. Thus, there will be an even sharper focus on fuel handling and cleaning efficiency, and advanced fuel treatment equipment will become even more important.
A main driver is, of course, the need to reduce ship operation costs in order to remain profitable and competitive. Here the focus is on fuel efficiency, fuel flexibility, equipment life-cycle costs and cost of ownership.
Equally important is to find solutions that will comply with new legislation. The focus in this case is on preparing fuel systems for handling multiple fuel types onboard. Other factors are fuel availability, deteriorating fuel quality, reliability and safety.
Future options
Of the main future options for ship owners and operators, Alfa Laval believes that the three most likely to dominate in the short term are: continue with HFO and add exhaust gas cleaning equipment (scrubbers); continue with HFO and complement with distillates (dual fuel); or blending fuel in order to meet environmental legislation.
Complete post to be found at:
www.maritime-executive.com/article/alfa-laval-tumba-ab-energy-efficiency-application-leadership-integrated-solutions
At this year’s SMM, Alfa Laval’s customer and press seminar included a presentation entitled “Saving energy and reducing CO2 emissions”. Niclas Dahl, Alfa Laval Marine & Diesel Equipment, discussed the shipping industry’s future fuel options with a focus on keeping operating costs at a viable level while complying with environmental regulations. René Fich Jespersen, Alfa Laval Aalborg, presented the latest Aalborg waste heat recovery products and showed the impressive fuel savings and reductions in CO2 emissions they offer when installed onboard a typical container ship.
Onboard ships throughout the world, Alfa Laval products installed in engine rooms save energy, reduce CO2 emissions and prolong engine lifetimes. The fuel treatment line, from the settling tank to the engine is one of Alfa Laval’s key focus areas and the company continuously monitors developments in the marine fuels market.
Fuel trend drivers
With increasingly stringent local and global environmental regulations, ship owners and operators are currently reviewing their future options in terms of fuel compliance strategies and new fuels are being discussed. The result is likely to be the use of lower and more variable fuel quality, with more cat fines. Thus, there will be an even sharper focus on fuel handling and cleaning efficiency, and advanced fuel treatment equipment will become even more important.
A main driver is, of course, the need to reduce ship operation costs in order to remain profitable and competitive. Here the focus is on fuel efficiency, fuel flexibility, equipment life-cycle costs and cost of ownership.
Equally important is to find solutions that will comply with new legislation. The focus in this case is on preparing fuel systems for handling multiple fuel types onboard. Other factors are fuel availability, deteriorating fuel quality, reliability and safety.
Future options
Of the main future options for ship owners and operators, Alfa Laval believes that the three most likely to dominate in the short term are: continue with HFO and add exhaust gas cleaning equipment (scrubbers); continue with HFO and complement with distillates (dual fuel); or blending fuel in order to meet environmental legislation.
Complete post to be found at:
www.maritime-executive.com/article/alfa-laval-tumba-ab-energy-efficiency-application-leadership-integrated-solutions
Use Clean Fuel in Hong Kong Waters & Save - MarineLink.com
Posted - September 16, 2012 -MarineLink.com
http://www.marinelink.com/news/waters-clean-fuel347681.aspx
Ocean-going
vessels (OGVs) to become eligible for a 50% reduction in port facility
& light dues if they switch to cleaner fuel while berthed in Hong
Kong waters.
"The government has been implementing a package of 22 measures, targeting various major polluting sources, with a view to improving the air quality in Hong Kong," Hong Kong Secretary for the Environment. Reducing marine emissions is one of our priorities and the launch of the incentive scheme is a step forward to achieving this goal.
Mr. Wong said that under the incentive program, OGVs would enjoy a 50 percent reduction in port facility and light dues by switching from bunker oil to fuel with sulfur content of not more than 0.5 percent for their auxiliary engines, boilers and generators while at berth in Hong Kong waters. He commented that the incentive program would help reduce vessel emissions and improve the air quality around the port area.
In his 2012-13 budget speech, Hong Kong Financial Secretary announced the initiative to reduce by half the port facility and light dues charged on OGVs using low-sulfur fuel while berthing in Hong Kong waters.
In 2011, about 32,500 calls to Hong Kong were recorded. They are subject to port facility and light dues based on their tonnage at US$5.5 per 100 tons for every port call to Hong Kong.
Starting from September 26, 2012, the incentive program will last for three years.
"The government has been implementing a package of 22 measures, targeting various major polluting sources, with a view to improving the air quality in Hong Kong," Hong Kong Secretary for the Environment. Reducing marine emissions is one of our priorities and the launch of the incentive scheme is a step forward to achieving this goal.
Mr. Wong said that under the incentive program, OGVs would enjoy a 50 percent reduction in port facility and light dues by switching from bunker oil to fuel with sulfur content of not more than 0.5 percent for their auxiliary engines, boilers and generators while at berth in Hong Kong waters. He commented that the incentive program would help reduce vessel emissions and improve the air quality around the port area.
In his 2012-13 budget speech, Hong Kong Financial Secretary announced the initiative to reduce by half the port facility and light dues charged on OGVs using low-sulfur fuel while berthing in Hong Kong waters.
In 2011, about 32,500 calls to Hong Kong were recorded. They are subject to port facility and light dues based on their tonnage at US$5.5 per 100 tons for every port call to Hong Kong.
Starting from September 26, 2012, the incentive program will last for three years.
http://www.marinelink.com/news/waters-clean-fuel347681.aspx
EU Aligns With IMO Marine Engine Emission Rules - MarineLink.com
Posted - September 19, 2012 -
The European Parliament approves legislation agreed with member states, which requires new general limits to be in place by 2020.
The new rules will bring European legislation in line with limits agreed by the International Maritime Organisation. The general sulphur limit for fuels in European seas will fall from 3.5% to 0.5% by 2020, after MEPs insisted on deleting provisions that would have allowed the deadline to be postponed by five years. "Highly polluting shipping fuels have a serious impact on the environment but this is also the most important health reform of this parliamentary mandate. With air pollution from shipping expected to outstrip land-based emissions by 2020, urgent remedial action is needed", said rapporteur Satu Hassi (Greens/EFA, FI), after her report was approved by 606 votes to 55, with 3 abstentions. Fuel used in the Baltic Sea, North Sea and English Channel - Europe's 'sulphur emission control areas' (SECAs) - will need to meet the new international standard of 0.1% by 2015 (from 1% currently). The limits can be met by using cleaner fuels or technology, such as scrubbers, that can deliver an equivalent result. As part of its review of air quality legislation, the legislation asks the Commission to consider extending the stricter SECA limits to all EU territorial waters, i.e. within 12 nautical miles of the coastline.
http://www.marinelink.com/news/emission-aligns-marine347585.aspx
The European Parliament approves legislation agreed with member states, which requires new general limits to be in place by 2020.
The new rules will bring European legislation in line with limits agreed by the International Maritime Organisation. The general sulphur limit for fuels in European seas will fall from 3.5% to 0.5% by 2020, after MEPs insisted on deleting provisions that would have allowed the deadline to be postponed by five years. "Highly polluting shipping fuels have a serious impact on the environment but this is also the most important health reform of this parliamentary mandate. With air pollution from shipping expected to outstrip land-based emissions by 2020, urgent remedial action is needed", said rapporteur Satu Hassi (Greens/EFA, FI), after her report was approved by 606 votes to 55, with 3 abstentions. Fuel used in the Baltic Sea, North Sea and English Channel - Europe's 'sulphur emission control areas' (SECAs) - will need to meet the new international standard of 0.1% by 2015 (from 1% currently). The limits can be met by using cleaner fuels or technology, such as scrubbers, that can deliver an equivalent result. As part of its review of air quality legislation, the legislation asks the Commission to consider extending the stricter SECA limits to all EU territorial waters, i.e. within 12 nautical miles of the coastline.
http://www.marinelink.com/news/emission-aligns-marine347585.aspx
EUROPEAN COMMISSION - September 13, 2013
Link to -
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
Blue Growth - opportunities for marine and maritime sustainable growth - (Text with EEA relevance)
http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/policy/blue_growth/documents/com_2012_494_en.pdf
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
Blue Growth - opportunities for marine and maritime sustainable growth - (Text with EEA relevance)
http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/policy/blue_growth/documents/com_2012_494_en.pdf
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