World's Ships Produce More SOX Than All Vehicles Combined, More CO2 Than Some Nations - AFP

[hatrack]

Ocean-going vessels now belch out more of the major air pollutant sulfur dioxide than all of the world's cars, trucks and buses combined, according to a study released Thursday. The group behind the report, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), also said the shipping industry emits more of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide than many industrialized nations.

The ICCT, comprising transport and air quality experts from around the world, called on the industry voluntarily to clean up its act and also submit to tough standards as part of efforts to combat global warming.

"International ships are one of the world's largest, virtually uncontrolled source of air pollution," said Alan Lloyd, the ICCT's president and former secretary of California's Environmental Protection Agency. "Air pollution from diesel trucks and buses in Europe, Japan, and the US has declined steadily for over a decade. At the same time, air pollution from international ships is rising virtually unchecked," he said.

The study said the sulfur dioxide (SO2) content of marine diesel fuel is an average of 27,000 parts per million (ppm), compared to just 10-15 ppm for road fuels in Europe, Japan and the United States. SO2 is blamed for causing respiratory illnesses and acid rain, and for forming atmospheric particles that choke off air visibility.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Global_Shipping_Must_Curb_Unchecked_Pollution_999.html

[robinlynne]

1. good. let's stop buying chinese stuff! we really do not need it.

[Spiffarino]

9. This could get ugly.

If Mr. and Mrs. Bubba can't buy that $30 bedroom suite, I predict rebellion.
:sarcasm:

[Little Wing]

2. they also move more tonnage than all of the rest combined

so, why is this a surprise to anyone?

[hatrack]

4. Probably out of sight, out of mind for most people

But, geeze, 27,000 ppm sulfur? :puke:

[redqueen]

3. Action item here:

"However, the IMO is debating whether to adopt a new round of emission standards for international ships leading up to meetings in April and June, the ICCT noted.

It called on the IMO to mandate a 90-percent reduction in marine diesel's sulfur content, use up-to-date technologies to govern emission standards, and set new standards to address the impact of climate change."

[NickB79]

5. Sailing ships, anyone?

Container ships with computer-controlled masts and riggings, plus an auxiliary engine for when the wind may die down.

[OKIsItJustMe]

6. Or sails for auxiliary power

http://www.skysails.info/index.php?L=1

[Dead_Parrot]

7. On the other hand...

Doesn't that mean that ships are the mainstay of the "global dimming" that's one of the few things working against global warming?

:hide:

[w4rma]

8. Sounds we need some international regulations on marine diesel fuel and marine engines. (nt)

[razzleberry]

10. jet aircraft are a much bigger problem

tax on jet fuel for international flight is zero.
the vast majority of jet operation is frivolous.

ships do needed work.