Revolutionizing Marine Shipping (Part 6)

 

Marine Shipping is undergoing a major transformation as it seeks to decarbonize. Will wind power be part of the solution?

Continuing where we left off previously …

Black carbon and climate change

Another pollutant created through incomplete combustion of HFO is black soot called particulate matter. Some of the soot is called “black carbon”, particles that absorb sunlight while airborne and darken ice and snow when they fall to earth, contributing to global warming by decreasing the amount of solar energy reflected into space (the albedo effect) and increasing the rate of ice melt in polar regions. Most black carbon comes from natural sources such as forest fires and volcanic activity and other human sources such as vehicle emissions and industrial output. Black carbon is estimated to have the greatest impact on global climate warming, after carbon dioxide emissions.

HFO ban in the Arctic

With the growing availability of other fuel options and with melting ice opening new Arctic shipping routes, the pressure is building to ban HFO in this remote and fragile ecosystem. If spilled in the Arctic, HFO would be challenging to clean up due to the nature of the oil and a lack of spill response infrastructure and resources. HFO has been banned in the Antarctic since 2011.

Banning HFO in the Arctic would reduce environmental harm from the creation of black carbon when HFO is burned as well as eliminate the risk of spills. However, the environmental benefits must be weighed against the potential economic and social impacts on those who rely on ships to bring food and supplies into the Arctic.

A ban of the use and carriage for use of HFO as fuel in the Arctic to enter into force on July 1, 2024, has been proposed to the IMO. If approved, the process to enter into force would begin in late 2020. Following consultation with Northern communities and completion of an impact assessment, Canada supports this ban.

With such rapid progressions & advancements in the ever-changing field of technological innovations, Westline Shipping has introduced several revolutionary changes in maritime shipping, which also envelope the faculty of Careers in Merchant Navy, adhered to many new introductions in training for Merchant Navy!