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Posted: April 1st, 2023
How can the shipping industry better manage its waste and reduce its environmental impact, and what technologies are currently available to support this effort?
The shipping industry is a major contributor to global trade and economic activity, but it also generates significant amounts of waste that can harm the marine environment and human health. According to Clear Seas, an independent research centre on maritime issues, commercial ships produce waste as part of regular operations, such as sewage, garbage, oily bilge water, ballast water, and hazardous materials. Proper disposal of these wastes prevents pollution from ships and protects the ocean ecosystem. However, the management of ship wastes poses many challenges and opportunities for the shipping industry and the ports that receive them.
One of the challenges is the lack of coordination and integration between port reception facilities and downstream waste management operations. As Argüello (2020) argues, ship waste management is regulated incidentally within the regime of marine pollution prevention, which relies heavily on the provision of adequate port reception facilities on land. However, these facilities may not be compatible with the national waste legislation and management plans of the host countries, resulting in fragmentation and inconsistency. Moreover, some ports may not have sufficient capacity or incentives to handle the increasing volumes and diversity of ship wastes, especially in developing regions.
Another challenge is the need to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry, which account for over 80% of world trade and more than one billion tons of emissions per year. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN agency responsible for regulating shipping, has adopted a decarbonization roadmap for halving the industry’s emissions by 2050. However, the implementation and enforcement of this target remains uncertain and depends on the political will and cooperation of governments, ship owners, mariners, and port authorities. As Figueres (2020) points out, reducing emissions in the shipping industry is critical for the fight against climate change and the protection of the ocean.
To address these challenges, there are also some opportunities and technologies that can support the shipping industry to better manage its waste and reduce its environmental impact. One of them is to adopt a life-cycle approach to waste management, which involves every phase from prevention and reduction to collection, transport, monitoring, and treatment. This approach can help to avoid the transfer of pollution from one environmental medium to another and to ensure consistency and coordination between different regimes and stakeholders. For example, some ports have implemented waste minimization programs that encourage ships to segregate their wastes on board and to use reusable or recyclable materials.
Another opportunity is to adopt innovative solutions that can improve the efficiency and sustainability of shipping operations. For example, some ships have installed waste-to-energy systems that can convert organic waste into biogas for power generation or heating. Other ships have adopted low-carbon fuels or alternative propulsion systems that can reduce their emissions and fuel costs. Moreover, some ports have invested in digital technologies that can optimize their waste management processes and enhance their environmental performance.
In conclusion, the shipping industry faces many challenges and opportunities in managing its waste and reducing its environmental impact. The industry needs to comply with the international regulations on marine pollution prevention and decarbonization, as well as with the national waste legislation and management plans of the port states. The industry also needs to adopt a life-cycle approach to waste management and to embrace innovative solutions that can improve its efficiency and sustainability. By doing so, the shipping industry can contribute to the protection of the ocean and the mitigation of climate change.
References
[1] Argüello G (2020) Environmentally sound Management of Ship Wastes: challenges and opportunities for European ports. Journal of Shipping and Trade 5:12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41072-020-00068-w
[2] Figueres JM (2020) Here’s how we can reduce shipping industry emissions. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/shipping-industry-carbon-emissions-climate-change-environment-ocean/
[3] Clear Seas (n.d.) Ship Waste Management. https://clearseas.org/en/ship-waste-management/
[4] Environmental Defense Fund (2022) Shipping Industry and Ports Susceptible to Billions of Dollars in Damage, Disruption from Climate Change. https://www.edf.org/media/shipping-industry-and-ports-susceptible-billions-dollars-damage-disruption-climate-change
[5] Marine Insight (n.d.) Marine Pollution by Ships -Tips for Reducing & Recycling Waste at Sea. https://www.marineinsight.com/environment/marine-pollution-by-ships-tips-for-reducing-recycling-waste-at-sea/
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