Plastics

KCS, NS and CN sign onto campaign to prevent plastic pellet spills

A photograph of a Norfolk Southern locomotive and another freight train locomotive parked at a rail yard.

Freight railroads and the plastics industry have started to work together to address a side effect of North America’s booming plastics production: the dispersion of wayward plastic pellets in transit.

Plastic pellets, or resin pellets, are a feedstock used in plastics production. They can look like small round orbs or balls. But because of their size, they can easily disperse during transport. Environmental groups have said that following a storm, these pellets, which are also called nurdles,...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/kcs-ns-and-cn-sign-onto-campaign-to-prevent-plastic-pellet-spills

STB asks Class I railroads to report on chemicals and plastics data

A photograph of boxcars and tank cars at a rail crossing.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) will include certain chemical and plastics traffic as a distinct reporting category that the Class I railroads must include in a weekly report about held railcars.

The Board said Thursday it is adopting a rule on this issue, effective July 20. The rule will apply to all the Class I carriers and the Chicago Transportation Coordination Office. Chicago is a key railroad hub.

The Class I railroads report certain performance metrics for a wide range of...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/stb-asks-class-i-railroads-to-report-on-chemicals-and-plastics-data

Liberian ships urged to be cautious of Indian plastic ban

Following India’s ban on single use plastic from onboard vessels, the Liberian Maritime Authority reminds all Liberia-flagged vessels sailing to India of what to keep in mind, from which single use plastics are acceptable, to the importance of implementing a Ship Execution Plan (SEP).

To remind, India firstly announced the ban in October 2019, according to which the use of single-use plastic is prohibited onboard vessels on board Indian ships and foreign ships, when these ships are at a port or...

https://safety4sea.com/liberian-ships-urged-to-be-cautious-of-indian-plastic-ban/

NYK begins large-scale survey of ocean microplastics

NYK signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chiba Institute of Technology (CIT) to use a ship to collect and analyze microplastics in oceans worldwide, in order to create a solution to marine plastic pollution. This is the world’s first initiative between a company and a research institute to carry out a survey of microplastics over a wide range of the ocean.

According to the World Economic Forum, as much as 8 million tonnes of plastic is dumped into the oceans every year. If this...

https://safety4sea.com/nyk-begins-large-scale-survey-of-ocean-microplastics/

Dive in the deepest point in Med. Sea reveals impact of human contamination

The second phase of Caladan Oceanic’s 2020 deep-diving expeditions has been completed as the sub pilot and explorer Victor Vescovo and Prince Albert II of Monaco dived at the bottom of Calypso Deep. The dive also revealed that the human contamination has affected the deepest point in the Mediterranean sea.

Calypso Deep is the deepest point in the Mediterranean and was firstly visited 55 years ago. Now, on February 10, the team reached a newly calculated maximum depth for the Deep, using direct...

https://safety4sea.com/dive-in-the-deepest-point-in-med-sea-reveals-impact-of-human-contamination/

Rubbish bins from recycled plastic spread across the UK

BinForGreenSeas announced that Swale Council will join its project. The organization will soon establish three bins along the Swale seafront, prompting visitors to dispose of their litter responsibly with our prominent and poignant message: throw marine life a lifeline.

The bins will be placed at Minster Beach, Leysdown Beach and Sheerness Beach. These are popular areas with tourists and locals alike, so we are delighted that Swale Council is being so proactive in taking a stand against marine...

https://safety4sea.com/rubbish-bins-from-recycled-plastic-spread-across-the-uk/

Why a Ship Execution Plan is vital for ships trading in Indian waters

In line with the requirements of Shipping Order No 5-2019 all ships trading in Indian waters, ports or places need to be provided with a Ship Execution Plan regarding the use of Single Use Plastics onboard. Scope of the Plan is to provide guidance for the actions to be taken in order to comply with the requirement. Approval by the Administration or a Recognised Organisation (RO) on behalf of the Administration is NOT mandatory.

As per India Administration, Directorate General of Shipping Order...

https://safety4sea.com/cm-why-a-ship-execution-plan-is-vital-for-ships-trading-in-indian-waters/

Year in Review: Environmental issues that caught shipping’s eye in 2019

ssi

As we are approaching the end of another exciting year for shipping, without a doubt the focus of everyone ahead of 2020 will be on IMO sulphur cap. This issue, along with decarbonization in general, has emerged as a main priority for the sector, with companies trying to find ways to cut their emissions. In this article, we take a look back at 2019, and we identify the key environmental moments that left their mark.

IMO 2020 sulphur cap

From 1 January 2020, the limit for sulphur in fuel oil used...

https://safety4sea.com/cm-year-in-review-environmental-issues-that-caught-shippings-eye-in-2019/

Clean Seas augmented reality experience raises awareness on marine litter issue

Leveraging the advantages of augmented reality for reaching audiences, a new Clean Seas augmented reality experience created by Singapore creative technology studio MeshMinds, in cooperation with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), now allows audiences to immerse themselves in the challenge of tackling the marine litter problem.

Working with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and Singaporean artist, André Wee, MeshMinds created a virtual ocean teaming with sea creatures made from plastic waste.

https://safety4sea.com/clean-seas-augmented-reality-experience-raises-awareness-on-marine-litter-issue/

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