Sustainable shipping green innovation for the marine industry

Abstract

This paper aims at highlighting the most significant aspects of the present and upcoming environmental regulations in the maritime field: from the already adopted requirements on NO_x, SO_x and CO₂ in MARPOL Annex VI, to the forthcoming requirements of the Ballast Water Management Convention; from the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (2009), to the EU measures under development and discussion for the Measurement, Recording and Verification of ships’ CO₂ emissions. The paper also touches upon how the new regulations will affect the design and operation of ships and what are the new technologies available on the market.

Relevant documents of the International Maritime Organization available online

• IMO-MEPC.57/4 20 December 2007—Report on the outcome of the comprehensive study undertaken by the Informal Cross Government/Industry Scientific Group of Experts Established to evaluate the effects of the different fuel options proposed under the revision of Marpol Annex VI

• IMO-NOx Technical Code, 2008 (NTC 2008)—Technical code on control of emission of nitrogen oxides from marine diesel engines

• IMO-Resolution MEPC.213(63)—2012 Guidelines for the development of a Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP)

• IMO-Resolution MEPC.231(65)—2013 Guidelines for calculation of reference lines for use with the energy efficiency design index (EEDI)

• IMO-Resolution MEPC.233(65)—2013 Guidelines for calculation of reference lines for use with the energy efficiency design index (eedi) for cruise passenger ships having non-conventional propulsion

• IMO-Resolution MEPC.245(66)—2014 Guidelines on the method of calculation of the attained energy efficiency design index (eedi) for new ships

• IMO-MARPOL-Annex VI—Regulations for the prevention of air pollution from ships

• IMO-MEPC Circ.684—Guidelines for voluntary use of the ship energy efficiency operational indicator (EEOI)

• IMO-Resolution MSC.285(86)—Interim Guidelines on safety for natural gas-fuelled engine installations in ships

• IMO-International Conference on Ballast Water Management for Ships BWM/CONF/36—Adoption of the final act and any instruments, recommendations and resolutions resulting from the work of the conference—International convention for the control and management of ships’ ballast water and sediments

• IMO-International Conference on the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships SR/CONF/45—Adoption of the final act and any instruments, recommendations and resolutions resulting from the work of the Conference—Hong Kong International Convention for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships