Feature 4
Shipping emissions remain burning issue
The emissions from shipping debate rolls on, with IMO set to accelerate
work on greenhouse gases and investigate the environmental effects of
different fuel types, against the backdrop of a controversial study on deaths
attributable to particulate matter, writes Clare Nicholls.
T
he International Maritime
Organization (IMO) is to consider
accelerating its work programme on
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships,
in order that the March 2008 session of the
Marine Environment Protection Committee
(MEPC) can bring forward decision-making
on measures to control and reduce such
emissions.
Speaking to the IMO Council in November,
2007, IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E
Mitropoulos said he wished to expedite this
work and that he intended to present MEPC
with a proposal through which this might be Cardiopulmonary mortality attributable to ship particulate matter emissions worldwide,
sought. according to the ‘Mortality from Ship Emissions: A Global Assessment’ study. Copyright
It is expected that certain key elements of 2007 American Chemical Society.
IMO’s revised greenhouse gas study will be
ready for MEPC to make decisions at its 58th
session, in the autumn of 2008. implementation dates. arrived at their figure based upon data from
Mr Mitropoulos spoke of the increasing Chaired by Mike Hunter, deputy director, the International Comprehensive Ocean-
importance and urgency given by the international liaison, at the UK’s Maritime Atmosphere Data Set by Corbett et al, and the
international community to the control of and Coastguard Agency, the group was Automated Mutual-assistance Vessel Rescue
greenhouse gas emissions worldwide and of aiming to submit a report by mid-December system by Endresen et al. These two data sets
the wish to act, and act now. He said that IMO 2007, the results of which will be presented combined detailed information about vessel
and the international maritime community to IMO’s sub-committee on bulk liquids and characteristics with vessel traffic densities to
needed to demonstrate their determination gases in February 2008, before moving on to determine emissions geospatially.
to be in the front line of the global campaign MEPC in March/April 2008. However, not everyone is convinced by
to tackle the threat to the global climate The project coincides with the publication the findings of the study. Dr Hermann J
without delay. of a peer-reviewed, but none the less Klein, member of the executive board at
IMO has also commissioned a study to controversial study entitled, ‘Mortality Germanischer Lloyd, commented that its
review the impact of various proposed fuel from Ship Emissions: A Global Assessment’ conclusions were arrived at through applying
options to reduce SOx and PM, resulting in American Chemical Society journal a simple mathematical model, taking the
from possible amendments to MARPOL Environmental Science and Technology. proportion of produced emissions and
Annex VI. The study has been undertaken This study cites shipping-related PM as dividing it by the proportion of shipping
by an informal cross section of government being responsible for approximately 60,000 traffic compared to other forms of transport.
and industry scientific experts, and has also cardiopulmonary and lung cancer deaths He said that the 60,000 figure was therefore
investigated the impact such fuel options annually, particularly in coastal areas near groundless.
could have on other emissions, including shipping lanes in Europe, East Asia, and Others have championed the study,
CO emissions from ships and refineries, South Asia. It also postulates that these however. Eelco Leemans, coordinator of
2
taking into account the availability of CO mortalities could increase 40% by 2012, due the marine campaign at the North Sea
2
abatement technologies. to continually increasing global shipping Foundation, part of Friends of the Earth
The study brief included analysing traffic. International, said there was no reason to
predicted fuel and emission trends leading to The paper’s lead authors are Dr James disagree with these results, whose authors
2020, based on current MARPOL Annex VI Corbett of the University of Delaware, and Dr he described as well-respected scientists who
regulations, and considering the implications James Winebrake of the Rochester Institute had done a lot of research to support their
arising from various proposed legislation of Technology, both in the USA. They findings. NA
The Naval Architect January 2008 77
NA Jan -
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