Ships Air Pollution

Ships Air Pollution

Air Pollution From Ships: Imo Adoption of Efficiency Standards in 2011

United States views on international law (based on the document “Digest of U.S. Practice in International Law”): On July 15, 2011, the Parties to Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (“MARPOL”), acting through the International Maritime Organization (“IMO”), amended Annex VI to include energy efficiency standards for certain new ships. An EPA fact sheet explained the new program:

The International Maritime Organization has adopted first-ever energy efficiency design standards for new ships. Under this new program, an Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) will be required for new ships, with progressively more stringent efficiency targets phasing in beginning in 2013.

…The EEDI creates a common metric to measure and improve new ship efficiency. This metric is calculated as the rate of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from a ship per transport work performed by the ship. CO2 emissions are directly related to energy efficiency and are calculated as fuel consumption multiplied by a fuel carbon factor. Transport work is calculated as a function of the cargo capacity of the ship and the design ship speed.

… The EEDI applies to the most energy-intensive segments of the international shipping fleet, representing more than 70 percent of ship emissions.

…A recent study by IMO projects that emissions from shipping will increase 150 percent to 250 percent by 2050 in the absence of policies to reduce emissions.

Developments

The IMO study also shows that many options exist to improve the efficiency of new ships, thereby reducing fuel consumption and emissions. The measures identified by the study include hull improvements, propeller/propulsion system upgrades, alternative power options (e.g., towing kite), hull coatings, propeller improvements, auxiliary systems, speed reduction, and main engine improvements.

Although technologies and methods are available today that can be used to improve energy efficiency and therefore achieve cost savings, standards in the form of energy efficiency targets such as the EEDI are needed to provide an incentive for the implementation of this technology. While many of these efficiency improvements will pay for themselves through fuel savings, there are non-financial barriers that prevent their use. These non-financial barriers include 1) fuel price uncertainty, 2) split incentives between owners, operators, and shipyards and 3) lack of good information on the fuel efficiency improvements for different technologies, and impact on life cycle costs.

… This efficiency improvement has beneficial energy implications due to reduced oil consumption. More efficient ships will also emit lower amounts of criteria pollutants such as oxides of nitrogen (NOx), oxides of sulfur (SOx), and particulate matter (PM).

The full text of the fact sheet is available at (internet link) epa.gov/otaq/regs/nonroad/marine/ci/420f11025.pdf.

Resources

See Also

  • Environment
  • Transnational Scientific Issues
  • Protection Of Environment
  • Marine
  • Conservation

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