Green Shipping

IEA: Energy demand to rise by over 25% until 2040

IEA published the World Energy Outlook 2018 (WEO 2018), which includes global energy trends and their possible impacts on supply and demand, carbon emissions, air pollution, and energy access.

According to IEA, major transformations are happening for the global energy sector, from growing electrification to the expansion of renewables, upheavals in oil production and globalization of natural gas markets.

WEO 2018 concluded that there are mixed signals regarding the pace and direction of change....

https://safety4sea.com/iea-energy-demand-to-rise-by-over-25-until-2040/

Four reasons why slower ships could benefit the oceans

In light of MEPC 73 and its discussions regarding reducing shipping emissions, Greenpeace focused on another issue. The organization said that ships must reduce their speed, which could provide many benefits in the long term.

Namely, Greenpeace presents four reasons why reducing speeds could make a difference for the climate and for the oceans:

1. Lower speeds equal less CO2

Ships emit more of everything at higher speeds. Putting a limit and reducing speed could cut shipping emissions by a third,...

https://safety4sea.com/four-reasons-why-slower-ships-could-benefit-the-oceans/

Shipping is beginning to notice wind propulsion solutions

Lately the shipping industry has reached a wide consensus that it must decarbonize the sector. Especially ahead of the 2020 sulphur cap, the industry is trying to improve its environmental footprint. In this attempt, several companies are considering wind propulsion technology solutions.

Namely, the International Windship Association (IWSA) said that it has seen a significant change in interest and engagement in the industry. In fact, some wind technology solutions could provide 5, 10, or 20%...

https://safety4sea.com/shipping-is-beginning-to-notice-wind-propulsion-solutions/

Canada announces $1.6 million to protect Southern Resident Killer Whales

As part of its measures to protect endangered whale populations, Transport Canada will be working with multiple partners on the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) program which is looking at ways to reduce underwater noise in key areas where there are Southern Resident Killer Whales.

This builds on an announcement by the Government of Canada in June 2018 of the $167.4 million Whales Initiative that increases Transport Canada’s research and...

https://safety4sea.com/canada-announces-1-6-million-to-protect-southern-resident-killer-whales/

Underwater noise problems come on the surface

The ocean is full with sound, with many animals depending on it to survive. By using sound, many marine organisms can communicate underwater and understand information about their environment. However, underwater noise deriving from human activity, produces sounds that interfere with the ability of marine animals to hear the natural sounds in the ocean, concluding on a major and often deadly menace to ocean wildlife.

Cetaceans such as whales are using mostly sound to survive in their...

https://safety4sea.com/cm-underwater-noise-problems-come-on-the-surface/

Nestlé, Tesco to tackle ghost gear problem in the ocean

During the ‘Our Ocean 2018’ conference in Bali, Nestlé and Tesco joined the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) to address the 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear, also known as ghost gear, ending up in the oceans every year.

The Global Ghost Gear Initiative is dedicated to tackling the problem of ghost fishing gear worldwide. Ghost gear is abandoned, lost and discarded fishing nets, lines and traps which can persist in the environment for up to 600 years.

GGGI also announced a raft of commitments to...

https://safety4sea.com/nestle-tesco-to-tackle-ghost-gear-problem-in-the-ocean/

ICS welcomes progress made at MEPC 73

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) welcomed the significant progress made by IMO’s MEPC 73 on some key environmental issues, such as the GHG reduction from ships and the 2020 sulphur cap.

While attention was rightly focused on preparations for the 2020 sulphur cap, IMO also made very good progress towards implementing the ambitious GHG reduction strategy agreed in April, adopting an Action Plan for the development of short term measures that will deliver additional CO2 reductions...

https://safety4sea.com/ics-welcomes-progress-made-at-mepc-73/

EU commits €300 million for clean and safe oceans

At the 5th edition of Our Ocean conference, in Bali, the European Union announced 23 new commitments for better governance of the oceans and €300 million of EU-funded initiatives, which include projects to tackle plastic pollution, make blue economy more sustainable and improve research and marine surveillance. This contribution comes on top of the over €550 million committed by the EU in last year’s Our Ocean conference in Malta.

The state of our oceans calls for determined global action. With...

https://safety4sea.com/eu-commits-e300-million-for-clean-and-safe-oceans/

USCG: Which engines can be certified by US EPA as meeting Clean Air Act Tier 3

USCG published a Work Instruction (WI) outlines how it will enforce MARPOL Annex VI Regulation because of the unavailability of engines needed to comply with this regulation.

Instead of complying with MARPOL Annex VI Tier III performance standards, engines covered by this guidance can be certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as meeting Clean Air Act Tier 3 requirements under 40 CFR part 1042.

MARPOL Annex VI Regulation generally does not allow the operation of any engine in...

https://safety4sea.com/uscg-which-engines-can-be-certified-by-us-epa-as-meeting-clean-air-act-tier-3/

September 2018 was the 4th hottest on record

Warmth continued at a steady rate across the world last month, making for the fourth hottest September on record for the globe and the fourth warmest year to date, the latest analysis by NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information informed.

As a matter of fact, the 10 most warm September global land and ocean surface temperatures have taken place since 2003 with the last five Septembers (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018) being the five warmest ever recorded.

Namely, the average global...

https://safety4sea.com/september-2018-was-the-4th-hottest-on-record/

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