A study by sustainable transport group Transport & Environment (T&E) entitled ‘One Corporation to Pollute Them All’ has found Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest luxury cruise operator, emitting nearly 10 times more sulphur oxide (SOX) around European coasts than did all 260 million European cars in 2017.
The world’s second largest, is second, yet four times worse than the European car fleet.
In absolute terms, Spain, Italy and Greece, closely followed by France and Norway, are the European countries most exposed to SOX air pollution from cruise vessels while Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Venice are the most impacted European port cities, followed by Civitavecchia (Rome) and Southampton.
These countries are exposed to air pollution from cruise ships due to less stringent marine sulphur fuel standards which allows the vessels to burn high sulphur fuel all along their coastlines.
“Luxury cruise ships are floating cities powered by some of the dirtiest fuel possible. Cities are rightly banning dirty diesel cars but they’re giving a free pass to cruise companies that spew out toxic fumes that do immeasurable harm both to those on board and on nearby shores. This is unacceptable,” said Faig Abbasov, shipping policy manager at T&E.
Europe should implement a zero-emission port standard as soon as possible, this could then be extended to other ship types, finds the study.
The report also recommends extending emission control areas (ECAs), currently in place only in the North and Baltic Seas and English Channel, to the rest of the European seas.
Furthermore, the report recommends regulating NOX emissions from existing ships, which are currently exempt from NOx standards applying in emission control areas.
“There are enough mature technologies to clean up cruise ships. Shore-side electricity can help cut in-port emissions, batteries are a solution for shorter distances and hydrogen technology can power even the biggest cruise ships,” concluded Faig Abbasov.
“The cruise sector are apparently not willing to make the shift voluntarily, so we need governments to step in and mandate zero emission standards.”
The report ‘One Corporation to Pollute Them All’ can be downloaded here.
Photo credit: Transport & Environment
Published: 6 June, 2019
“Proposed amendments involve [...] application of Energy Efficiency Design Index requirements to ships having ice-breaking capabilities,” said a spokesman.
Shipping industry must submit data collection plans to verifiers by 1 September to ensure timely verification.
European Commission agrees the whole maritime chain should be involved in GHG reduction.
The Center staff will include subject matter experts in energy, bunker fuels and ship technology as well as regulatory affairs, finance and the global energy transition.
Though the South Korean port air quality act is independent of MARPOL Annex VI, authorities will accept alternative compliance methods like scrubbers and LNG, says Gard.
Australia ‘remains extremely concerned’ leak from bauxite bulk carrier could turn into major oil spill.
Caroline Yang, President of SSA, addresses issues earlier raised by players; including PMC No. 04, the seven-day restriction, contactless bunkering, sampling point, hose connection, and more.
IBIA Asia, ABIS, sources from Singapore’s bunkering and surveying companies, and an industry veteran share with Manifold Times the issues expected from MPA’s latest Covid-19 measures.
The top three positive movers in the 2020 bunker supplier list are Hong Lam Fuels Pte Ltd (+13); Chevron Singapore Pte Ltd (+12); and SK Energy International (+8), according to MPA list.
‘We will operate in the Singapore bunkering market from the Tokyo, with support from local staff at Sumitomo Corporation Singapore,’ source tells Manifold Times.
Changes include abolishing advance declaration of bunkers as dangerous cargo, reducing pilotage fees on vessels receiving bunkers, and a ‘whitelist’ system for bunker tankers.
Claim relates to deliveries of MGO to the vessels Pacific Diligence, Pacific Valkyrie, Pacific Defiance, Crest Alpha 1, and Pacific Warlock between March 2020 to April 2020.
