Environmental Issues Faced by the World Maritime Industry - Term Paper Example

Table of Contents Introduction 2 Discussion 2 Waste management 4 Cargo residues 5 Aquatic Invasive Species and emissions 5 Key international regulations 6 Non-GHG emissions 6 GHG emissions 7 Conclusion 8 References 10 Introduction Maritime industry comprises of companies that are engaged in a business of manufacturing, constructing, acquiring, maintaining vessels, supplying, dry docks, shipyards, freight forwarding services, marine railways, customs brokerage, operating shipping lines and marine repair shops. Subsequently the major percentage of passengers and goods within any region, the maritime transport facility is regarded as important and vital for coastal communities. The maritime industry of every country is regarded as pivotal part of economy. There are several companies that have pioneered in the sector of maritime industry which includes Trans-orient Maritime Agencies Inc., Magsaysay Maritime Corporation and Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc. The foremost priority of International Maritime Organization is to manage the impact of environment on shipping to protect the marine environment. The prime purpose of the paper is to provide detailed analysis on key environmental issues that are faced by the maritime industry. Furthermore, the broader objective of the project is to discuss on important international regulations to nullify the issues. Discussion The maritime industry is the part of the sector which includes enterprises in the commercial business of marine railways, shipyards, operation, manufacturing and construction of components in the shipping lines. According to Lam Yi Young, shipping industry is regarded as the life blood for the economy of the world and viewed as the cornerstone of the worldwide trade. It is estimated that more than 90 percent of the trade of world is carried out by the maritime industry. This resembles the importance of shipping industry in the world. The significant upsurge in seaborne trade provides vivid explanation about the importance of maritime industry. In the year 1968, the seaborne trade was over 7,900 billion ton-miles. There have been significant upsurge of growth in seaborne trade. In the year 2008, it is estimated that seaborne trade is more than 32,000 billion ton-miles. Lam YI Young also believes that in relations with rate of emanation of carbon dioxide per ton-kilometre, maritime industry is observed as the utmost effective system of cargo transport. The lack of safety measures leads to the occurrence of maritime pollutions and accidents. The worldwide maritime industry is regarded as the pivotal part and backbone of international trade and globalization. Moreover, it contributes effectives to wellbeing of human beings through development and growth worldwide. In case of environmental change, there are many advantages of shipping industry which includes high-efficiency in transportation of goods. Over the coming years, it is estimated that the emission of greenhouse gases can have adverse impact on environment. The open air working environments of the maritime industries can open the flood gates for pollutants to reach water, soil and air. According to the International Maritime Organization, the estimation of rate of carbon dioxide is expected to escalate to more than 70% by the year 2020. If no actions are undertaken to nullify the environmental impact of shipping industry then 72% is the total estimated emission of carbon dioxide from shipping. The emergence of environmental challenges has pushed the shipping industry in to self-protective corner. According to the Secretary of ECSA, Patrick Verhoeven, it is vital to devise a strategy to address the challenges faced due to environmental issues (Patel, 2012, p.38). It is vital for maritime industry to reduce the rate of harmful gas emission. Several strategies and processes can be implemented by fuel oil modification and reduction of harmful air pollutants. The marine diesel engine discharge dissipates emissions in the environment which is regarded as the predominant practice of power entity. This form of power element comprises of oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, small quantity of carbon monoxide and large quantity of water vapour and carbon dioxide. The maritime industry effectively contributes to the emission of exhaust gases. The primary aim of International Maritime Organization is to nullify the issue of pollution. The prevention of pollution has been one of the pivotal factors which create huge impact on the development of world maritime industry. It has been estimated that over the period of 25 years, there has been rapid upsurge of volume of maritime industry. The capacity of freight has been increased to more than 129 percent (Song, 2012, p.55). The occurrence of security and environmental uses has increased the prices of energy and forced maritime industries to focus on environmental sustainability. Some of the critical environmental issues faced by maritime industries are cargo residues, waste management, Aquatic Invasive Species and emissions. Waste management Some of the waste materials that are generated from harbours and ports in the maritime industry are garbage, sewage, oil, contaminated scoured material, maintenance wastes and ballast water. It is vital to notify that waste which is entering in to the environment of harbours and ports can be generated from many sources which are difficult to identify. It is researched that majority of the pollution that enters in to the environment of harbours and ports are from land based industrial actions and land based sources. The management of waste has been one of the prime issues in maritime industry to demonstrate notable strategy and program that can help to improve the performance of environment. The prevention of rapid rise of pollution has forced maritime industry to undertake voluntary initiatives that can be initiated by adoption effective procedures and guidelines of waste management. The waste management approaches and discharges of shipping industry have been studied by Environmental Protection Agency to initiate controlling action that can help to address the issue of pollution. Cargo residues According to MARPOL Annex v guidelines, cargo residues from shipping industries are regarded as harmful for environment. This is one of the environment issues that have forced maritime industries to implement new strategies to nullify the discharge of cargo residues (Kemp, 2004, p.81). Aquatic Invasive Species and emissions Some of air emissions from maritime industry are particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and sulphur oxides. The occurrence of heavy marine traffic is resulted in to the emission of harmful gases. It is estimated that more than 2.1 percentage of carbon dioxide is accounted by maritime traffic. The members of World Shipping Council are focused on reduction of emission of carbon dioxide in environment. It is reported that maritime industry effectively contributes to the climatic change. It is also revealed that exposure of harmful toxic emission in the environment can cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The shipping industry proposed several global approaches to reduce emission of greenhouse gas. Aquatic Invasive Species are regarded as marine organisms that can invade environments and ecosystems (Thomas, 2008, p.2). The presence of harmful invasive and exotic organisms can act as a harmful for commercial and native ecosystems. This issue of ecosystem has created vital for shipping industry to apply methodical data to emphasis on habitats and conservation accomplishments. The commitment towards maintenance and protection of healthy habitats is vital to commercial, aquatic resources, subsistence contributions and continuation of ecological balance. Key international regulations The London Based agency of United Nations is regulated by the International Maritime Organization for shipping industry. The key aim for the introduction of International Maritime Organization is for the protection and safety of the environment. A comprehensive framework is adopted by International Maritime Organization of comprehensive technical guidelines and protocols. The application of framework of IMO is to ensure that ships that are licensed and certified follow enforced rules and regulations (Xiang, 2010, p.29). In the area of environmental safety, the introduction of number of regulations in the shipping industry is vital to maintain and establish standards in the safety of maritime industry. The International Maritime Organization has initiated regulations for ship owners to introduce Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan and Energy Efficiency Design Index to maintain the use of fuels. New thresholds is planned to be introduced from the year 2016 to maintain the emissions of nitrous oxide. Regulations for both non-GHG and GHG emissions are enacted by International Maritime Organization. Non-GHG emissions International Maritime Organization regulated non-GHG emissions. In the year 1973, the International Conventional is initiated to control the prevention of pollution. In the year 1997, Annex VI added to the International Convention to address the issue of emission of harmful gases such as nitrous oxide and sulphur oxide. The emission standard is set by the Annex to limit the upsurge of air pollution. United States Caribbean area, North American area, North Sea area, and Baltic Sea area are the four key areas for Emissions Control. In the maritime industry, two thresholds have been regulated on sulphur emissions. It is estimated that between the year 2014 and 2015, the percentage of sulphur substance in the marine fuels must be less than 1 (Loannou, 2014, p.286). This estimated is regulated in areas within Sulphur Emissions Control Areas. Furthermore, the areas that are regulated outside the SECA is planned to reduce the percentage of sulphur content within 3.5. The proposed regulations and plan for these thresholds on sulphur emissions is within the year 2020. GHG emissions The United Nations Framework Convention does not regulate the GHG emissions from the maritime industries. In 2011, UN climate Change Conference has not introduced any new regulation for shipping industry emissions. GHG emissions are tackled by International Maritime Organization by introduction of Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan and Energy Efficiency Design Index. These both mechanisms are regarded as the foremost mandatory regulation for GHG emissions. In 2013, this mechanism came in to existence and applies to every ship in the maritime industry with above 400 tons gross capacity. The introduction of SEEMP is to enable owners of ships to measure the efficiency of fuels. In the European Union, regulations have been set for GHG and non-GHG emissions. By the year 202, the European Union planned to reduce the emission of GHG less than 20 percent. By the year 2050, the EU targeted to reduce the shipping emission within 45 percent. Monitoring, reporting and verification are regarded as the first step by the European Union towards the execution of trading system for emissions (Manheim, 2008, p.99). A voluntary initiative is introduced in Singapore to reduce the emission of sulphur dioxide. This resembles the importance of government towards the introduction of effective rules and regulations to lessen emissions of harmful gases in the environment. On the other hand 18 maritime companies in Hong Kong entered in to Fair Winds Charter to reduce the content of sulphur in fuels. Four other policies are being introduced by regulators for shipping industries. Energy emissions standards, emissions monitoring obligations, financial incentives and emissions trading policy are some of the key policy mechanism. Example of energy emissions standards are introduction of EEDI for nitrous oxide and sulphur oxide standards. Financial taxes and incentives policy is introduced to implement new taxes on fossil fuel in the shipping industry. On the other hand United States Greenhouse Gas rule and MRV system by European Union are some of the examples of emissions observing obligations. The Maritime Environmental Resource Centre is an initiative by the United States Maritime Administration to provide maritime industries expertise, test facilities, decision tools and information to fight against environmental issues. Some of the important services provided by MERC are providing classification societies, technological developers, regulatory agencies, ship builders with decision tools and information and expertise environmental innovations and evaluation of water treatments. Conclusion This can be concluded that there are several significant environmental concerns in maritime industry such as discharge of dangerous and perilous contaminants to food chains, marine ecosystems and waterways can upsurge the risk of environmental damage. Every year, amount of regulations that are initiated by maritime industries are increasing and create vast positive impact on environmental sustainability. International Maritime Organization adopted the Ballast Water Convention in the year 2004. The primary reason behind the introduction of regulations is to specify the rate of sulphur emissions and ensure safety. At the time of adverse climatic change, it is vital for transport sector to build and adapt to the upsurge of global activity on economy and environment. The World Shipping Council supported these standards that are proposed to reduce the particulate matter, sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides emissions. Furthermore, these standards initiated can help to improve air quality and reduce carbon emission. It is estimated that governments introduced Law of the Sea regulations for marine and coastal activities. The environmental and safety regulations introduced at the International Maritime Organization on the foundation of collective judgment prepared from every international municipal. References Kemp, D., 2004. Exploring environmental issues. New York: Springer. Loannou, P., 2014. Intelligent freight transportation. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Manheim, F., 2008. The conflict over environmental regulation. Munich: Grin Verlag. Patel, M., 2012. Shipboard propulsion, power electronics, and ocean energy. London: Kogan Page. Song, D., 2012. Maritime logistics: Contemporary issues. London: Routledge. Thomas, S., 2008. Water pollution issues and development. London: Kogan Page. Xiang, J., 2010. Marine science and technology. New Jersey: Pearson. Read More