Environment

World Oceans Day: Vella highlights EU ocean conservation efforts

June 8, 2018 / by Sherritta Ablah-Wetsi / Environment / 0 comments

European Commissioner Karmenu Vella © Aron Urb (EU2017EE) European Commissioner for the Environment and Maritime Affairs, Karmenu Vella, has welcomed the occasion of World Oceans Day by detailing the successes of the commission’s ocean conservation efforts. The theme of this year’s World Oceans Day is ‘Preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean’, which acknowledges […]

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By 2050 there may be more plastic in oceans than fish – UN

June 5, 2018 / by Sherritta Ablah-Wetsi / Environment / 0 comments

Plastic pollution, like this in Zandvlei, is a global problem that chokes the world’s waterways and oceans. (Kevin Rack) Plastic pollution in the oceans has reached a stage where microplastics – pieces smaller than 5mm – now outnumber stars in our galaxy, according to UN secretary general António Guterres. And by 2050, he says, if […]

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2020 Sulphur Cap: Likely Teething Troubles

May 7, 2018 / by Sherritta Ablah-Wetsi / Environment / 0 comments

There is still a cloud of uncertainty with regard to the implementation of the 2020 global sulphur cap for ships, however, one thing is certain, huge amounts of money will be required for the shipping industry to switch to compliant fuels. In less than two years, all ships trading outside of sulphur Emission Control Areas […]

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How to Comply with High-Sulphur Fuel Ban?

April 18, 2018 / by Sherritta Ablah-Wetsi / Environment / 0 comments

Owners, operators, masters or chief engineers found guilty of transporting non-compliant fuels intended for burning in marine engines could face stringent financial penalties and possible imprisonment if IMO adopts the high-sulphur fuel ban. The message was conveyed by Laura Langh-Lagerlof, Managing Director of Langh Tech, Finland-based designer and producer of exhaust gas cleaning systems, at […]

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Pollution from Shipping Dips in EU, Report Shows

April 16, 2018 / by Sherritta Ablah-Wetsi / Environment / 0 comments

Air pollution from sulphur oxides (SOx) emitted from ships has substantially dropped over the past years, a new compliance report issued by the European Commission shows. As explained, this positive trend is the result of joint efforts by member states and the maritime industry to implement EU rules under the Sulphur Directive and opt for […]

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Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative Lunched

March 9, 2018 / by admin / Environment / 0 comments

Shipowners, banks and charity organizations including the Sustainable Shipping Initiative and non-profit Forum for the Future launched the Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative on March 7, in Hamburg. The initiative comes as a response to the lack of transparency across ship recycling policies that leads to bad practices and related health, safety and environmental hazards. Namely, […]

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