| Safeguarding
the Seas
Stopping
the pollution of our oceans by ships and fast ferries and preventing
deadly collisions with whales
Ship
Pollution Across the Ocean
Air
pollution from all ocean-going vessels in U.S. waters is expected
to grow by 150 percent over the next three decades. A single cargo
ship coming into New York harbor can release as much pollution as
350,000 current-model-year cars in one hour. In the Ports of Los
Angeles/Long Beach, the 16 container ships each day in port produce
as many smog-forming emissions as one million cars. In one port
visit, a single cruise ship generates the emissions of more than
12,400 cars.
These ship smokestacks release toxic emissions that lead to acid
rain, global climate change, and damaging health effects to low-income
communities situated near ports. Far greater than previously estimated,
a 2003 study has found that large ships generate 30 percent of global
nitrogen emissions – twice the previous estimates of 14 percent.
The ships also produce 16 percent of sulfur emissions from all petroleum
sources.
Port communities suffer the most from the diesel exhaust emitted
by ships, where elevated cancer risk has been documented. Residents
of Los Angeles and Long Beach, for example, experience higher cancer
risk from diesel exhaust generated by the ports. Even in Santa Barbara,
which does not have a commercial port, smog emissions from ships
that blow onshore are larger than those produced by all cars and
trucks on land. This pollution can reduce air quality hundreds of
miles inland depending on wind and weather patterns.
Dirty
Fuels and Lack of Adequate Air Pollution Controls
Despite the fact that ships are more energy efficient than other
forms of commercial transportation, marine engines operate on extremely
dirty fuels. Most large ships use the dirtiest and least expensive
diesel available. Known as bunker oil, this fuel is the collection
of residue from the production of higher grade fuels and contains
significant concentrations of toxic compounds banned from use in
most other industrial and consumer applications. It is thick as
asphalt and must be heated to be burned.
To compound the problem, engines on ocean-going ships are currently
not required to meet the same strict air pollution controls as cars
and trucks are required to do. These engines are inadequately regulated
in the U.S. and the international shipping treaty on shipping pollution
that entered into force in May 2005 – but which the U. S.
had not ratified -- provides minimal benefits as the standards simply
codify the status quo. This is true due to the weakness of the standards,
the growth of global shipping, and the emissions reductions being
gained in other mobile source categories. After Bluewater Network
called for stronger international standards at the International
Maritime Organization, the Marine Environmental Protection Committee
agreed in July 2005 to consider stronger international standards
contained in Annex VI of MARPOL (the Convention on the Prevention
of Marine Pollution from Ships).
EPA
Lawsuit
Bluewater Network settled a ground-breaking lawsuit against the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that required the agency to
set air emission standards for ocean-going vessels, which were finalized
in January 2003. However, influence from the Bush Administration
resulted in new rules that will not provide any air emissions reductions.
Bluewater Network challenged the standards in court. However, a
judge ruled that EPA was within its authority to delay more stringent
standards until 2007 or later. Bluewater Network is continuing to
advocate for stronger engine and fuel standards to apply to both
domestic and foreign-flagged ships stopping at US ports and for
establishment of Sulfur Emissions Control Areas along the North
America coasts.
Solutions
Burning cleaner diesel fuels in port can significantly reduce air
emissions from ships. Turning off the engines and hooking up to
shoreside power and the electrical grid when docked reduces smokestack
emissions by nearly 100 percent. New engine technologies can also
make ships far, far cleaner than today’s engines. These solutions
are feasible and available, but won’t be implemented until
communities, policymakers and regulators join forces to advocate
for immediate action and seek accountability for the impact on public
health and the environment from ports and the shipping industry.
Bluewater Network is working for change at the local, state, national
and international level.
Get
Answers to Some Frequently Asked Questions:
What can
be done to reduce shipping pollution?
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