The regulation of emissions from ships: industry self-regulation - what it means for commercial shipping
Published 2009-09-02
Keywords
- air pollution,
- ship emissions,
- MARPOL 73/78,
- acid rain,
- Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution 1979
- climate change,
- Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer 1987,
- IMO,
- IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC),
- MARPOL Annex VI,
- sulphur cap,
- sulphur fuel carriage ban,
- Sulphur Emission Control Areas,
- flag State control,
- International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate,
- port State control,
- Emission Control Areas,
- government regulation,
- Ocean-Going Vessel Auxiliary Diesel Engine Regulation,
- marine environment,
- California Air Resources Board,
- bunkers,
- propulsion loss,
- American Petroleum Institute,
- INTERTANKO,
- INTERTANKO Bunker Emission Clause for Time Charters,
- BIMCO,
- BIMCO Bunker Fuel Sulphur Content Clause for Time Charter Parties 2005 ...More
Abstract
In this article, Lean provides a history of international conventions regulating air pollution, and the later introduction of maritime-specific conventions regulating emissions, such as Annex VI of MARPOL. Lean discusses MARPOL Annex VI in some depth including amendments to it, several EU Directives also regulating sulphur content in ship fuel, and measures adopted by the US to curb air pollution from ships.
In the second part of his paper, Lean looks at the practical effects and engineering, logistical, and legal challenges of these regulations for the shipowner, including some of the problems with using different grades of fuel/fuel switching, and complying with MARPOL Annex VI.