The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) on Wednesday (15 July) said Danish authorities have again requested EMSA’s Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) services to support the monitoring of ship emissions around the area of the Great Belt.
The RPAS will specifically measure the ships’ sulphur emissions to check compliance with EU rules governing the sulphur content of marine fuel, it said.
Measurements will be transmitted in real time to the EMSA RPAS Data Centre and to THETIS EU, which will create alerts to be followed up by the competent authorities.
The deployment of the RPAS from the Danish coast started on 6 July in support of the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA) and is a continuation of previous services in 2018 and 2019, explained EMSA.
RPAS provides an effective means for monitoring ship compliance with the MARPOL Annex VI for Sulphur Emission Control Area (SECA): The RPAS unit passes through the exhaust gas plume from ships’ stacks and analyses the plume with a dual sniffer system from which the sulphur content in the fuel burnt is derived.
The sulphur content in the fuel used together with images, video, flight path, measurements are transferred in near to real time and stored in the RPAS DC.
The data centre is directly linked to THETIS-EU, a central database that inspectors can consult. In case of a possible non compliant vessel, further control can be prioritised at the next port of call.
As in 2019, the service provider for this deployment is the consortium comprising Nordic Unmanned AS, and NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS.
This year the deployment will be performed by the Schiebel CAMCOPTER® S100 flying with Nordic Unmanned AS’s tail number.
It is a RPAS for Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) with a flight endurance of more than six hours that can pursue night operations.
The aircraft payload includes the Explicit mini sniffer sensor system for vessel emissions monitoring. The Satcom services to directly connect the site of operation to the RPAS-DC are provided by VIASAT.
EMSA added that RPAS services have been developed to assist in maritime surveillance and monitoring operations to support national authorities involved in coast guard functions.
This includes: maritime pollution and emissions monitoring; detection of illegal fishing, anti-drug trafficking, and illegal immigration; border surveillance; and, search and rescue operations.
Related: China: Drone catches polluting ship in waters near Pudong New Area
Related: “Snifferdron” to undergo three months of tests in Danish waters
Related: Danish Maritime Authority deploys ‘sniffer’ drone in Danish waters
Photo credit: European Maritime Safety Agency
Published: 16 July, 2020
‘Upward trend in the number of operational spills during bunkering over the past few years,’ says MPA Chairman.
Dr Goh Jin Hian signs agreement with TK Energy Limited for disposal of IEG’s entire shareholding interests.
Pavilion Capital Fund Holdings plans for SGD $50 million subscription of Ezion Holdings shares.
In total, 4.3 million mt of various marine fuels were sold at the world’s largest bunkering port in April, an increase from 4.11 million mt recorded for April 2020.
VLSFO was earlier alleged to cause an increase in black carbon emissions as it is more aromatic than HSFO - IBIA sheds light on such ‘unintended consequences’.
Two-year programme is open to candidates in Panama, Dubai, Singapore and Denmark.
OctamarTM HF-10 Plus was subjected to tests conducted at a third party lab by SGS Testing and Intertek in Singapore under the supervision of ClassNK earlier this year, according to spokeswoman.
Former Regional Marine Manager of BP Singapore issued penalty of SGD 6 million; he faces an additional 28-month imprisonment term if penalty is not paid, says Judge.
Sing Fuels claiming over total 1,049.29 metric tonnes of 380 centistokes bunker fuel delivered to bulk carrier Lila Shanghai at Port Elizabeth, South Africa in July 2019, according to court documents.
Reserve Stability Number results are ‘questionable’ as almost all additives targeting asphaltene management show effectiveness in the test, says spokesman.
Singfar International partnering Lianyungang Shenghua Shipbuilding to deliver 7,000 dwt DF bunker tankers from 2023 to support decarbonisation of the Singapore maritime industry.
GSM awarded USD 1.85 million as well as SGD 5,800; Judge finds SFM Director ‘ungrateful and dishonest in his dealings with Bernard and the plaintiff,’ according to Court Judgement seen by Manifold Times.
