Maritime countries agree first ever shipping emissions regulation

Butcampaigners warn rules only apply to new ships replacing older ones – anddeveloping countries have six-year waiver

Guardian, John Vidal, environment editor, Monday 18 July 2011

Maritime countries have agreed to regulate shipping emissions – but
 campaigners warn the rules don't go far enough. Photograph: David
Levene for the Guardian

Countrieshave taken a first step towards reducing climate emissions from shipping with aglobal agreement to reduce energy use in new vessels from 2013 onwards.

The belatedaction on Friday by 55 of the world's biggest sea-faring nations meeting at UN's international maritime organisation in London will force all ships over400 tonnes built after 2013 to improve their efficiency by 10%, rising to 20%between 2020 and 2024 and 30% for ships delivered after 2024. The first everregulation of emissions in shipping is expected to lead to greenhouse gasemission reductions of 45-50m tonnes a year by 2020.

But China,Brazil, Saudi Arabia and South Africa have secured a six and a half year delayfor new ships registered in developing countries, which could mean the firstguaranteed effective date of the reform will be in 2019. Shipping accounts for3-4% percent of man-made CO2 emissions worldwide and this figure is expected torise to 6% by 2020, with emissions doubling by 2050 if no action is taken. Shipowners,who traditionally do not pay for the fuel that their ships use, have longresisted any regulation despite increasing pressure from environmental groupsand reformers within the industry.

EnvironmentalNGOs welcomed the tightening of the energy efficiency design index (EEDI)standard but cautioned that because it only applies to new ships replacingolder ones at the end of their long lives, the full effects of today's decisionwill take a long time to have any major impact. There is a significant danger,said some, that many shipowners will elect to have their new ships flagged indeveloping countries that provide a waiver.

"Today'sdecision should result in fuel savings of $5bn a year by 2020 and CO2reductions of 22m tons. This is an unprecedented economic and environmentalopportunity and the IMO has taken an important step forward", said PeterBoyd, COO of Carbon War Room.

If the samestandards were applied to the existing fleet of more than 30,000 ocean-goingships it could save $50bn a year in fuel and 220m tons of CO2, he said.

"Therewill be no change to existing ships which are currently pumping out a billiontones of CO2 each year, and for new ships it will take another dozen yearsuntil the EEDI is really delivering benefits. Operational changes could bedelivering major benefits today," said Jacqueline Savitz, the seniorcampaign director for the marine conservation NGO Oceana.

Theefficiency improvements are expected to be met through better engine design,more efficient hull shapes, improved waste heat recovery systems and the use ofhull coatings to make ships more "slippery".

The deal isnot likely to satisfy the European Commission that the maritime organisation issuccessfully regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The EC is therefore expectedto proceed with its threat to bring shipping into the Emissions Trading Scheme,as it is doing in aviation, where there have been recent legal challenges fromnon-European countries.

In aseparate development on Friday, the European Commission said it plans to tighten ship fuel sulphur regulations, which should lead to public healthsavings of billions of dollars, especially in countries like Britain andHolland that border busy sea lanes. The proposal would cut the maximumpermissible sulphur content of fuels to 0.1% from 1.5% from 2015 in sensitiveareas such as the Baltic Sea and the Channel, and to 0.5% from 4.5% in allother areas from 2020.

Shippingburns some of the most polluting fuels, and the proposal is expected to fineparticle emissions from ships by up to 80 percent, the commission said.

Theexpected cost to the shipping industry of the new standards is between €2.6bnand €11bn ($3.7-$15.6bn), which the EU executive argues would be far outweighedby public health savings, of up to €34bn

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Govt aims to produce 4,000 qualified sailors a year

Arghea Desafti, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 05/25/2011

The Transportation Ministry has announced plans to produce 4,000 sailors annually to meet increasing demand.

“We are currently producing 1,500 [graduates] a year from our state-owned sailing academies [STIP]. Hopefully we can increase the number of graduates to 4,000 next year,” Transportation Ministry Education and Training chief Bobby Mamahit said Wednesday at a discussion on improving the quality of human resources in the transportation sector.

Ministry data reveals that Indonesia will require at least 43,800 new sailors over the next five years.

The ministry is currently operating sailing schools in Jakarta, Tangerang, Semarang, Makassar, Surabaya, Barombong and Serang.

“One of the challenges we face is that we are still seeing graduates preferring to work for companies overseas rather than here in [Indonesia]," Bobby said.

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Danish shipping giant switches to 'green' wood in containers

Deutsche Welle, May 24, 2011

Maersk says 'green' containers are
just part of its strategy

The Copenhagen-based Maersk Line has pledged to stop purchasing containers fitted with floorboards made from uncertified tropical hardwood in a bid to reduce illegal logging in tropical forests and combat climate change.

Denmark's Maersk Line announced on Monday that it was the first shipping company to stop buying containers with floors made from uncertified tropical hardwood.

The Copenhagen-based company, which is also building a new generation of energy-efficient vessels, is charting a course toward greater environmental responsibility throughout its shipping operations.

"So far, much of our focus has been on vessels and using as little fuel as possible," said Jacob Sterling, head of climate and environment at Maersk Line. "But we also need to look at containers."

Shipping firms, including Maersk Line, traditionally use containers fitted with tropical hardwood floors, according to Sterling. "This wood is highly durable and fairly low cost."

About two cubic meters of hardwood are required to produce floors for three 40-foot containers. The container industry uses between 1.2 and 1.5 million cubic meters of hardwood each year.

Maersk says illegal loggers have profited from the shipping industry's demand
for wood for too long

Certified hardwood

Under its new policy, Maersk Line will purchase containers equipped with floors made from either certified tropical hardwood, bamboo or recycled plastics.

All tropical hardwood has to be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. The certification, according to Sterling, requires that wood is harvested in a sustainable way for both the forest and the animals and people living there.

Bamboo is an attractive alternative because it is a fast growing plant and is highly abundant near factories making containers for Maersk Line in China, Sterling said.

The recycled plastic floor material, on the other hand, comes from waste collected through Germany's Grüner Punkt program. "This is a very high-quality floorboard, which is mixed with sawdust," Sterling told Deutsche Welle. "We favor the floors made of recycled plastics but will support the other two because we want to have a choice."

Maersk Line has purchased 64,000 containers that comply with the new policy. Over the next five years, the company plans to purchase up to 3 million containers. It expects to have its entire fleet of containers equipped with environmentally friendly floors within 18 years, the typical lifetime of a container.

Sterling noted that the three alternatives to uncertified hardwood floorboards will initially cost slightly more, but expects prices to drop over time. 

Welcome change

The Maersk initiative has been welcomed by environmental groups such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

"Their conversion to using a globally recognized standard of certification... is a truly substantial contribution to the sustainable management of tropical forests, biodiversity conservation and improving local livelihoods," said Stephen Kelleher, Deputy Head of the Forest Conservation Programme at IUCN.

"Achieving sustainable development and environmental conservation will not be possible without the full engagement of the private sector, and we hope this bold move will inspire other businesses to follow suit - not only within the shipping industry, but across the commercial sector."

Author: John Blau

Editor: Sam Edmonds

Oil slick beaches fishermen

The Jakarta Post, Mon, 02/14/2011

An oil slick, reportedly from a vessel bearing a Singaporean flag, has stopped at least 300 fishermen from going out to sea in Tanjung Berakit,  Bintan, Riau Islands, an official says.

Bintan Environmental Impact Management Agency head Karya Hermawan told tempointeraktif.com Monday that he was not sure if it was sludge from the ship’s engine or oil from another source. The oil has damaged fishermen’s fishing gear, he said.

 The oil had spread up to six kilometers along Padang Lamun Beach, he said.

He said the oil came from a tanker during a cleanup of the vessel and was dumped at night when the north wind was blowing toward Batam. Bintan and Tanjung Pinang.

The agency conducted a cleanup, putting the oil in sacks, in an attempt to prevent the oil from spreading, he said, adding that an investigation was under way.

A fisherman said the pollution became apparent in the wee hours of Saturday. He recalled that sacks containing similar black oil had been found in the water several years ago.

Dutch spaceman showcases eco-friendly yacht

RNW, 17 August 2010 - 2:40pm | By Willemien Groot

(Photo: RNW )

The sleek exterior design already hints at the vessel's high-tech interior. Sailing yacht Ecolution, the work of former astronaut Wubbo Ockels, generates its own electricity and is constructed from sustainable materials. If Mr Ockels has his way, it will be the yacht of the future.

The secret of the 25-metre two-master lies under the waves. There the Ecolution conceals two vast carbon propellers that generate power while she sails. The resulting electricity is stored in two batteries which also provide the necessary ballast. Five days of sailing produces sufficient energy for a whole month's creature comforts on board.

Fully fitted

On board there are four toilets, underfloor heating, a fully fitted kitchen including a microwave, a dishwasher and an oven, and even a shower and steam cabin. The vessel can sail into port using electric motors. In an emergency, the crew can resort to biodiesel. For this purpose, the ship has two separate engine rooms.

The Ecolution will experience its baptism of fire this week at Sail Amsterdam, where it will be given pride of place in the parade of tall ships bound for Amsterdam. During Sail 2010, the Ecolution will be open to the public and this coming winter it will be on display in Scheveningen harbour near The Hague.

One planet

Wubbo Ockels, who became the first Dutchman in space 25 years ago, has since made a name for himself as an advocate of sustainable solutions. His message is simple: we only have one planet, so we have to handle it with care. Mr Ockels' has previously championed a solar-powered car and a super bus that can reach speeds of up to 250 kilometres an hour.

The former astronaut is determined to test his latest invention in person, with the eventual aim of building more. The price of these special yachts is expected to be around four million euros. Given the price tag, it comes as scant consolation that there are no additional crew expenses. It only takes one or two people to man the Ecolution.

Video in Dutch

Websites:

Ecolution home page

Sail Amsterdam 2010

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DEWARUCI (Indonesia)

The moment armed marines abseiled onto a hijacked ship before rescuing its crew from pirates

Daily Mail, by MAIL FOREIGN SERVICE, 2:06 PM on 06th April 2010

Guns at the ready, six Navy commandos abseil from a helicopter onto the deck of a ship as they prepare to come face to face with the armed pirates hiding on board.

These pictures capture the precarious moment the Dutch marines boarded the German merchant ship, the MV Taipan, not knowing the risks that awaited them.

Minutes later they arrested the pirates and freed the ship's 15-strong crew.

Risky: Marines board the German vessel MV Taipan where 10 armed pirates were waiting on board

Hijacked: After arresting the pirates the commandos freed the crew of 15 people, who were locked away

The ten pirates had boarded the container ship - as it sat 500 miles east of Somalia - using a mothership and two attack boats.

Within hours the Dutch frigate Tromp had deployed its Lynx helicopter to the scene, after receiving a distress signal from the Taipan.

As the Tromp neared the hijacked vessel it fired warning shots and sounded alerts, sending the mothership fleeing.

After using a rope to board the ship, the marines turned off the engines and overpowered the pirates while alerting warships patrolling the Gulf of Aden.

Rescue: The Dutch helicopter was deployed after crew on the MV Taipan issued a distress alert

Brave: The marines boarded the ship, turned off engines and overpowered the pirates while alerting warships patrolling the Gulf of Aden

The German ship's crew members had locked themselves into a secure area and were unharmed. One Dutch marine was slightly injured during boarding but no one else was hurt.

The pirates were taken on board the Tromp but German Defence Ministry spokesman Robin Middel said it was not known what would be done with them. He would not reveal their nationality.

The Dutch navy launched the operation as part of an EU naval mission called Operation Atalanta which protects shipping along the key route off Somalia.

In March alone the mission captured 18 pirate gangs, destroyed 22 skiffs and apprehended 131 pirates for prosecution.

But there are still eight vessels and 157 hostages in the hands of Somali pirates.

The Taipan ship was able to continue its voyage after despite damage to its bridge, according to a statement from the Defence Ministry.

Proposal mandates stricter pollution controls for ships

The Washington Post, by Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post Staff Writer, Friday, March 26, 2010; 5:41 PM

To curb air pollution, large tankers, container ships and cruise boats will have to use low-sulfur fuels when passing through U.S. and Canadian coastal waters, under a proposal adopted by a United Nations rulemaking body Friday.

Vessels traveling within 200 nautical miles of most of the two nations' coasts will have to cut their fuel sulfur content by 98 percent. The rules approved by the International Maritime Organization will be phased in from 2012 and new ships will have to use advanced pollution control technology starting in 2016.

"This is a change that will benefit millions of people and set in motion new innovations for the shipping industry," EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said in a statement.

Rich Kassel, a senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said, "Communities up and down the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf Coasts will feel the air quality improvements -- and the benefits will even extend hundreds of miles inland, reaching as far away as Nevada, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and the Grand Canyon."

While the cruise industry had opposed the plan for months, it did not object to the standards during Friday's vote in London, where the IMO is headquartered. Ramon Alvarez, a senior scientist with Environmental Defense Fund, said only a small number of ships have switched to the low-sulfur fuel voluntarily because it's twice as expensive.

More than 30 U.S. ports are in metropolitan areas that fail to meet federal air quality standards.

"It will mean higher operating costs, but we believe the tradeoff is to successfully address the problems U.S. port communities have faced," said Chris Koch, president of the World Shipping Council.

S. William Becker, executive director for the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, said the vote "demonstrates how effective the international community can be at solving a major health and environmental problem."

The United States and Canada jointly made the proposal a year ago.

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