Environment

Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum issues guidance on vehicle carrier presentation and loading of vehicles

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The Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum has published its first industry good practice guidelines
The Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum has published its first industry good practice guidelines

The Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum has published its first industry good practice guidelines entitled ‘Common Guidance on the loading and presentation of vehicles’. The guidance, and supporting checklist, are intended to reduce the risks associated with the shipment of unaccompanied vehicles, including electric and hybrid vehicles, and to promote the safety of terminal and vessel personnel and the protection of property including the vessel itself.

The Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum is a consortium of vessel operators, insurers and other industry experts, whose role is to promote safety on vessels designed to carry vehicles. The guidance is supported by industry bodies The International Group of P&I Clubs, The International Chamber of Shipping and the TT Club. Continue reading “Vehicle Carrier Safety Forum issues guidance on vehicle carrier presentation and loading of vehicles”

Replace harmful zinc anodes with aluminium as standard is the advice

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aftermath of burn - Photo credit: The Fitout Pontoon
Photo credit: The Fitout Pontoon

Zinc anodes are causing environmental damage is the message from the Clean Harbours Partnership (CHP), which is a UK-based organisation dedicated to raising awareness of harbour pollution. It has urged boaters, major boat manufacturers and other interested parties to replace or to recommend replacing zinc anodes with aluminium as standard to reduce and prevent further environmental damage. CHP has been studying the release of metals, particularly copper and zinc, by recreational vessels into the marine environment. CHP highlights that, in 2020, the Institute of Marine Sciences at Portsmouth University in the UK calculated that approximately 900 tonnes of zinc is released into UK coastal and inland waters by recreational vessels in an average year. Continue reading “Replace harmful zinc anodes with aluminium as standard is the advice”

EBI and the SeaCleaners publish a Guide to Responsible Boating

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EBI and the SeaCleaners publish a Guide to Responsible Boating
EBI and the SeaCleaners publish a Guide to Responsible Boating

Brussels-based European Boating Industry (EBI) and The SeaCleaners have jointly published a Guide to Responsible Boating which they say is a call to action for boaters worldwide to help combat plastic pollution in the oceans and waterways.

The Guide to Responsible Boating provides practical recommendations for boaters to minimise their environmental impact while enjoying their passion for water. From reducing plastic consumption to participating in waste collection efforts, they are encouraged to take an active role in preserving the oceans for future generations. Continue reading “EBI and the SeaCleaners publish a Guide to Responsible Boating”

IMO Biofouling Guidelines: Key recommendations

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revised IMO Biofouling Guidelines came into force in 2023
revised IMO Biofouling Guidelines came into force in 2023

The revised IMO Biofouling Guidelines came into force in 2023 and provide updated guidance on how to prevent the spread of marine invasive species. Here are the key recommendations.

Marine invasive species infestations are a major threat to the world’s oceans and to the conservation of biodiversity. It can be triggered by marine hull biofouling, the accumulation of aquatic organisms on ships’ hulls, which are then transported around the globe and inadvertently deposited in non-native waters. Here, they can become invasive, out-competing native species and multiplying into pest Continue reading “IMO Biofouling Guidelines: Key recommendations”

The Poseidon Principles for Marine Insurance: Annual Disclosure Report 2023

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The Poseidon Principles for Marine Insurance: Annual Disclosure Report 2023
The Poseidon Principles for Marine Insurance: Annual Disclosure Report 2023

The Poseidon Principles for Marine Insurance, an initiative backed by the Global Maritime Forum to drive decarbonisation of international shipping through transparency, has issued its second annual disclosure report.

This report is delivered amidst what will be a transformative year for the maritime sector marked by key events: the IMO’s adoption of the revised greenhouse gas (GHG) strategy at MEPC 80 in July, and ongoing challenges like congestion, personnel shortages, inflation, and sanctions linked to Russia’s war on Ukraine. Continue reading “The Poseidon Principles for Marine Insurance: Annual Disclosure Report 2023”

Carbon capture and storage: Risks and opportunities

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Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a long-established technology
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a long-established technology

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a long-established technology but its profile has grown as a potentially significant solution to achieve rapid decarbonisation. What are the associated risks and opportunities for the shipping industry?

Traditionally, CCS has most often been used for the enhanced recovery of oil from depleted reservoirs. More recently, its profile has grown as a necessary solution to decarbonise hard-to-abate industries such as energy, cement and steel production. Shipping can be added to this, as onboard carbon capture is likely to be required as alternative zero emission fuels are unlikely to be available in the necessary quantities and prices to achieve the IMO’s 2050 and interim targets. That captured CO2 will need transporting from the capture site Continue reading “Carbon capture and storage: Risks and opportunities”

Engine Retrofit Report 2023 finds lack of yard capacity could compromise retrofit ambitions

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Engine Retrofit Report 2023 has been published by Lloyd's Register
Engine Retrofit Report 2023 has been published by Lloyd’s Register

The Engine Retrofit Report 2023 from Lloyd’s Register (LR) has found that a shortage of repair yards with sufficient experience in conversions may hinder the take up of alternative fuel technology by the existing fleet.

Applying alternative fuels to existing ships research on the state of technology, integration and compliance, alongside the business case for retrofitting vessels, has found that repair yard capability and capacity concerns could thwart the uptake of alternative fuel technology onboard existing ships. Continue reading “Engine Retrofit Report 2023 finds lack of yard capacity could compromise retrofit ambitions”

Ammonia powered vessels could be economical as early as 2026 concludes new report

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Nordic Innovation 2023: noGAPS: Nordic Green Ammonia Powered ShipsUsing an ambitious but feasible set of actions, a new report concludes that ammonia-powered vessels will not only be commercially viable but with an aggressive path and broad use of subsidies could be possible as early as 2026. The new analysis from the Global Maritime Forum is the second phase of a project focusing on a first-of-its-kind ammonia-powered gas carrier and reiterates the research’s strong support for ammonia saying they believe the cost gap between operating ships on zero-emission ammonia and conventional fuel could be closed before 2030. Continue reading “Ammonia powered vessels could be economical as early as 2026 concludes new report”

Canada introduces mandatory wastewater regulations for cruise ships with immediate effect

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mandatory wastewater regulations introduced by government in Canada
mandatory wastewater regulations introduced by government officials in Canada

Citing the importance of strengthening Canada’s environmental standards, government officials have announced that effective immediately they have moved from voluntary to mandatory measures governing cruise ship wastewater discharges. Having previously been criticized for lax standards and enforcement, they highlighted that the new measures align with or exceed standards set out by the International Maritime Organization.

“We need to ensure they are doing so in a more sustainable manner moving forward,” Omar Alghabra, Canada’s Minister of Transport said while recognizing the contribution of cruise tourism to Canada’s economy. Continue reading “Canada introduces mandatory wastewater regulations for cruise ships with immediate effect”

Inland waterways users urged to help in battle against invasive water plant

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Kayakers in a riverEnvironmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, in partnership with the Environment Agency, has launched its #PennywortAlert scheme for 2023 as it urges the public to report sightings of the harmful aquatic weed, floating pennywort, on waterways in its battle against invasive water plant. Floating pennywort can grow up to an astonishing 20cm per day in late summer. It forms dense mats of kidney-shaped leaves on the water’s surface, depleting oxygen levels, blocking out vital sunlight for our native aquatic plants and, ultimately, threatening fish, invertebrates, insects and our wider native ecosystems. Continue reading “Inland waterways users urged to help in battle against invasive water plant”

UN adopts the historic new BBNJ agreement

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UN adopts the historic new BBNJ agreement
UN adopts the historic new BBNJ agreement

On 19 June, the United Nations (UN) adopted the new oceans treaty on sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). The UN’s 193 Member States adopted a landmark legally binding marine biodiversity agreement following nearly two decades of fierce negotiations over forging a common wave of conservation and sustainability in the high seas beyond national boundaries covering two-thirds of the planet’s oceans. Continue reading “UN adopts the historic new BBNJ agreement”

EU proposes new measures for safe and green shipping

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EU proposes new measures for safe and green shipping
EU proposes new measures for safe and green shipping

The European Commission has presented five legislative proposals to modernise EU rules on maritime safety and prevent water pollution from ships. The proposals will equip the EU with new tools to support clean and modern shipping. They will align EU rules with international regulations, securing a level-playing field for the sector while improving implementation and enforcement through digitalisation and more EU cooperation.

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) will play a prominent role in the implementation of the new requirements through the support it will offer Member States administration to enforce the new rules. Continue reading “EU proposes new measures for safe and green shipping”

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