Page 30: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2012)

30Maritime Reporter & Engineering News the first phase of the program, and 1,000 ppm in the second phase of the program.An additional area of major concern isBlack Carbon. Studies are underway to address the impact of black carbonemissions from vessels in the Arctic, as well as how to measure black carbon emissions from vessels and how to im- plement appropriate measures to reducethe black carbon emissions footprint inthe Arctic.A common definition of Black Carbon is that it is a strongly light-absorbingcarbon material produced by incompletecombustion of fuel oil and emitted as a solid primary particulate matter. It dif- fers from sulfur dioxide (SOx) emis-sions as it is classified as a secondary particulate matter pollutant. Black car- bon has significant effects on climate change and when deposited on snow and ice in the Arctic and lower latitudes, it darkens light surfaces and absorbs en- ergy, causing snow and ice to melt. Amendments to MARPOL Annex IV Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from ships were adopted including the poten-tial of establishing special areas or zonesfor the prevention of pollution from pas- senger ships including the Baltic Sea.IMO adopted the revised MARPOL Annex V Regulations for the prevention of pollution by garbage from ships. The amendments will go into force on 1 Jan-uary 2013.Comprehensive changes include the following: a new requirement specify- ing that discharge of all garbage into the sea is prohibited, except as specifically provided otherwise (what is permitted under certain conditions includes foodwastes, cargo residues, water used for washing deck and external surfaces con- taining cleaning agents or additives that are not harmful to the marine environ- ment), and additions to the requirementsfor placards and garbage management plans to fixed and floating platforms en- gaged in exploration and exploitation of the sea-bed.The Strait of Bonifacio is the strait be- tween Corsica and Sardinia named afterthe Corsican town Bonifacio. It divides the Tyrrhenian Sea and the western Mediterranean Sea. The strait is notori- ous among sailors for its strong currents,shoals and weather patterns as well asother obstacles.Since a tanker disaster in 1993, the passage through the Strait of Bonifacio has been prohibited for only French andItalian flag tank ships.MEPC designated the Strait of Boni-facio as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA). What this entails is that mariners are requested to exercise ex- treme care if they are to navigate in the PSSA bounded area as the region has a unique ecosystem that has been prone toaccidents. Many prudent mariners that ply the Mediterranean Sea believe this was long overdue. Initial international recommendationsto address bio-fouling of ships, to mini-mize the transfer of aquatic species wereproposed by MEPC. Instructions for thecontrol and management of ships' bio-fouling to minimize the transfer of non-native or non-indigenous species will address the risks of introduction of dan-gerous aquatic species. Bio-fouling is a significant mecha- nism for species transfer by vessels. A single organism has the potential to re- generate many thousands of times. Re- ducing or eliminating bio-fouling willsignificantly reduce the risk of transfer of non-native or non-indigenous species. MEPC approved a number of ballast water management systems and adopted guidelines related to the implementationof both the ballast water management and ship recycling conventions. These new methods will provide the ability to reduce or prevent risks arising from the transfer of dangerous environmentally unfriendly non-native or non-indigenous species.Approval was granted to two and basic approval to seven ballast water manage- ment systems that make use of active substances.What are all these changes leading to?It is readily apparent that one must have the ability to constantly change andadapt and it is of paramount importancetoday in the maritime industry. Ship?s do need to become maritime lean (sim-ilar to lean manufacturing) while re- moving all fat or excess and staying sustainable, green and environmentally friendly. The alternatives are that out- dated and non-compliant vessels will incur penalties and fines and end up in the scrap yard. This is only the precur- sor for a reduction in the number ofshipping companies. Mariners addi-tionally need to be well trained and fullycognizant of the changing seascape ofrules and regulations. They must be prudent and knowledgeable mariners that are able to use their expertise and skills to successfully manage their ves- sels in this globally regulated market. MARINE FUELS & LUBESCDR Emil A. Muccin, USMS is an As-sistant Professor in Nautical Sci-ence/Marine Transportation at the United States Merchant MarineAcademy. The views expressed in this article are the author?s own and not those of the U.S. Merchant Ma-rine Academy, the Maritime Adminis- tration, the Department of Transportation or the United States government. Visit us at the International Workboat Show, Booth #1907 With our 8,500 CY Seagoing Hopper Dredge ?Magdalen? currently under /.-,+*)/(.-%$-#%/."!- %.-%!-%!-%+%-$*%)+)*%%$*%$// (- %*,)",% .*% UL Masters and UL Chief Engineers %!-%$##!(.-%+.%%!/-,#%$+,%$-#% - !-*,%+.%%.+-($%.,!(.-,%!+!-%.)*% *.!- %.*%#* # %+%+% ,%$*!-%%*/. -!%+$+%.)*% *$+,+%*,.)*/%!,%.)*%. %$-#%%$*% /.""! #%+.%/*$(- %$-#%!-)*%$-#%!-/!#-+%*% %.*$/ $,%,)"!+%.)*%/.-#-($%*,)"%+.% [email protected] www.weeksmarine.com 
MR#11 (26-33):MR Template 11/7/2012 10:28 AM Page 30