Don Pedro's Ship Emissions

Because ballast water constitutes such big quantities ( in tons ) it's in most countries legally restricted by different authorities than other kinds of emissions. Therefore also on this site ballast water rules are followed up on it's own page: Ballast Water Convention.

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"Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships" ( Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78 ), which comes under Port State Control, came into force on May 19, 2005.

You can download MARPOL (demo) as a .zip file for free. To get the full version you must get an activation code.

MARPOL designates the Baltic Sea region as a "special" area (Annexes I, II, and V) [ Ship Emissions ],
- Clean Seas' Guide for Masters and other Mariners
- Waste Disposal
- Annex VI ( Air Pollution ) was revised in October 2008 [ Nox ], comes into effect July 01, 2010.
UK - Implementation Of the Environmental Liability Directive - 2007 (article).
European Union policy on ship emissions, with links to related EU documents, studies, and reports. The EU strives for stricter measures than MARPOL VI. Additional information by e-mail.
The oil companies' European association for environment, health, and safety in refining and distribution.
IMO summary of International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1997. Additional information by e-mail.
"Report pollution" gives a possible way for you to report intentional oil spill or other pollution with advice exactly how and what to report.
Overview of International Environmental Protection Conventions Implementation in P.R. China, slightly out-dated.
Philippine Clean Water Act, 2004 concerns also the Marine Environment, i.e. discharges and/or dumping of waste / pollutants / chemicals into the sea. For instance, use of oil dispersing chemicals is not allowed in Philippine waters.
After US became a party to MARPOL Annex VI US Coast Guard has incorporated MARPOL Annex VI, Regulations for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships [ USCG CG 543 Policy Letter 09-01 , which came into force in US on January 08, 2009. Covers US flagged vessels and all foreign flagged vessels over 400 GT engaged on International voyages and calling on US ports.
On March 27, 2009, US and Canada submitted a joint proposal to IMO to designate as an emission control area ( ECA ) virtually all coastal waters of the two nations out to 200 nautical miles of their coasts.

There are two such areas already in existence: The North Sea and The Baltic Sea. The North American area would be the third special control area / zone in the world. US excluded some areas away from the mainland. From the North American mainland the Canadian and US arctic and Western Alaska were also excluded.

The proposal of designing both East and West Coast of North America as Special Zones up to 200 nautical miles from the coast was adopted by Marine Environment Protection Committee ( MEPC ) of the International Maritime Organisation ( IMO ) in March 2010. At the same session another new Marpol regulation to protect the Antarctic from pollution by heavy grade oils was also adopted. These amendments are expected to enter into force on August 1, 2011.
EPA has published their contribution to air pollution rules and documentation in connection with US joining MARPOL Annex VI.
World Shipping Council proposes to IMO global Vessel Efficiency System to reduce carbon emissions. ( January 2010 )
California Air Resources Board tightened up their air pollution rules on July 01, 2009 - all vessels entering Californian ports must switch to low sulphur fuel at more than 24 nautical miles from the coast. The requirements will get even stricter in 2012.
On December 15, 2008, the Australian Government published their Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme: "Australia's Low Pollution Future" - White Paper ( CPRS ). On March 10, 2009, the paper was tabled in the Australian parliament, possibly because of Australia's "Green Left" 's reaction to emissions trading.
Regulations for the prevention of Air Pollution from Ships ( MARPOL Annex VI ) has been incorporated into Irish law (You must register before you get access). Applies to all ships regardless of flag state (2008).
A new international environmental coalition dedicated exclusively to the greening of international shipping was launched in April 2010. The Clean Shipping Coalition will promote policies aimed at the protection and restoration of the marine and atmospheric environment that are consistent with the safe operation of ships, sustainable development, social and economic justice, and human health.

Summary of EU legal situation 2009

Europe's major carbon emitters such as power, iron, and steel plants are already subject to the annually monitored ( carbon cap ) scheme. The aviation industry will enter the scheme in January 2012. Possibly the maritime industry could be the next one in 2014 / 2015.

IMO and Emissions Trading

UN's top "climate body" [ Framework Convention on Climate Change ] is leading global negotiations planned to be agreed on in Copenhagen at end of 2009. Main sectors' targets under discussion are the International aviation and maritime sectors. For the maritime sector IMO is supposed to be the leading UN "body".

IMO and the European Union, as regulating bodies, have introduced "Emission Control Areas" ( ECAs ). The intention is to reduce ships' emissions. In December 2008 the UK Chamber of Shipping came out in support of a global Emissions Trading Scheme ( ETS ).

ETS is a methodology seeking to award lower emitters and encourage higher emitters to improve their performance by its very basic design. Shipping contributes about 3% of all CO₂ into the atmosphere [ close to one billion ( thousand millions ) tonnes CO2 ( long ton )] per annum.

The Shipping Emissions Abatement and Trading ( SEAaT ) commission did host a seminar on April 2, 2009, in London to collect ideas, reports, and opinions from the shipping community on market based emissions trading, which is to be discussed at IMO meeting in July 2009.

SEAaT is sponsored by BP, Shell, Teekay, Stena Lines, and the Norwegian Shipowners Association. [Source: Marine Reporter 03 / 2009]

On April 17, 2009, the EU halted plans to impose more strict emission laws on the shipping industry because of the global recession and on May 04 Australia followed suit (may be you must register to get access).

EPAs Emission Rules

The California court decision led EPA to prepare their permit system - VGR ( Vessel General Permit ), which was to come into force before Christmas 2008. It was to concern all vessels, both commercial and recreational greater than 79 feet ( 24 metres ) of length at the waterline. USCG is on their part following their own rules which gives a higher limit for stricter rules of 100 feet ( 30 metres ). The 24 metre rule is same as what MCA, UK uses. The rules will be applicable out to the traditional 3 miles of US territorial waters.

End of December 2008 EPA opened one of the first US Governmental websites especially for mobile users - http://m.epa.gov/. The new website will cover "Find environmental information by ZIP code" and "EPA news releases" and other information.

Except for ballast EPA has listed a total of 26 different kinds of "emissions", including grey water ( showers, dish water ), deck drainage ( during rain ), and such as leaking of hydraulic fluids, etc. Most of negative comments has arisen against the ballast rules, while I think most head aches has started from the emission Permit Plan preparation requirements.

On Dec. 19, 2009 The District Court for the Northern District (US) approved to delay the effective date of the Vessel General Permit. New date was set to Feb. 06, 2009. Get more info on EPA website. All vessels - 79 feet or more in length - will be subject to the permit within 3 miles of the US coast, with following exemptions:

All commercial fishing vessels, exempted for 2 years,
Commercial vessels of less than 79 feet in length,
All recreational vessels.

All owners /operators must comply with a number of training, documentation, and reporting requirements. Twenty-eight states, Tribes, and Territories have added specific requirements, which vary from state to state [ see VGP Fact Sheet ].

President Obama's new EPA Chief is reconsidering EPAs new rules, so they seem to be in "limbo". Although somebody can risk a fine for not immediately following them (!). The new chief has said""I don't have an answer for you today but I want to you know that's very much on my radar screen".

What will develop from this is very much also on my "radar screen". This page I prepared with the specific purpose of following the new administration's views on "emissions". Let's wait and see for a while, shall we ?

On March 30, 2009, US EPA Administrator announced that US Government intends to through IMO designate US coastal waters ( up to 200 nautical miles off the coastline ) as "Emission Control Areas". This would put the coastal areas level with IMO "special" areas ( for instance the Baltic Sea ) [ MARPOL, Annexes I, II, and V ], which gives the strictest International rules.

Oil Spill Response Preparations

Due to global warming (?) the quantity of ice in the Canadian arctic waters ( north of Canada ) is getting smaller. This has for some time caused some of the ships trading between the Atlantic and the Pacific to choose the shorter route through the Northwest Passage instead of passing through the Panama Canal.

The Canadian Coast Guard is therefore planning to arrange oil spill response training for the local communities in the extreme North in August 2010. The locals will be supplied with some tools, like oil containment "booms" and the like. They hope they will get some boats too.

For some info on oil spill response training see Hazardous Materials and Oil Spills Training.

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