The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) has been renewed over the last ten years by The International Maritime Organisation (IMO). New conventions have also been ratified by the IMO. In addition the EU’s renewed directive that regulates sulphur emissions was passed last year. The new regulations affect the cost of new vessels and vessel operation and require that changes are made to existing vessels.
At the beginning of the year Elomatic won the tender to draw up a report for the Finnish Transport Safety Agency (TRAFI) regarding the costs incurred by marine transport in order to meet the new environmental regulations. The report, which is the largest of its kind ever in Finland, has just been released by TRAFI and is available on their website www.trafi.fi/julkaisut2013 (Finnish only).
The study reveals, according to each regulation, the additional investment costs and yearly operational costs and their general effects for different vessel types and sizes. In addition the overall additional costs for marine transport to Finland and the corresponding cost for the entire Baltic Sea area were calculated. Data of marine transport to Finland in 2011 was used as the basis of the study. The data included 1658 vessels represented by 53 flag states. The effects of all the IMO’s regulatory changes were checked, regardless whether they are to come into force or not.
The new regulations limit emissions for sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Solutions that result in compliance with the regulations include low-sulphur fuels or alternatively sulphur scrubbers to reduce SOx emissions, and Selective Catalytic Reactors to reduce NOx emissions. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel is a solution used mainly for new vessels.
Emissions into the sea are limited e.g. by outlawing the discharge of untreated ballast water into the sea (to avoid spreading invasive species) and by limiting the discharge of waste by passenger vessels in the Baltic. Different technologies have been developed to treat ballast water and nowadays the nitrogen and phosphorus contained in sewage water can also be aged on board.
In drawing up the study for TRAFI the researchers not only drew on their extensive special expertise, but also on Elomatic’s diverse experience in the design and retrofitting of different vessels.
For more information please contact: Henrik Bachér +358 400 444004 Peter Albrecht +358 400 201348