THE UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has released online programmes that it says will help develop national strategies to reduce harmful emissions, reports American Shipper
THE UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has released online programmes that it says will help develop national strategies to reduce harmful emissions, reports American Shipper. The 'toolkits' were tested in 10 pilot countries: Argentina, China, Georgia, India, Jamaica, Malaysia, Morocco, Panama, the Philippines and South Africa. The kits were developed by the GEF (Global Environmental Facility)-UNDP (UN Development Programme)-IMO Global Maritime Energy Efficiency Partnerships (GloMEEP) and are available for free download.
The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) and the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) also assisted with developing the toolkits.
Said GloMEEP technical adviser Astrid Dispert: 'It is clear that for port emissions to be reduced, national authorities need to consider emissions from all sources, including cargo-handling equipment, trucks, as well as domestic vessels.'
Annex VI of IMO's International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from ships (MARPOL) includes regulations to limit air pollution from ships as well as energy-efficiency regulations to cut greenhouse gas emissions from ships.
The IMO said the ship emissions toolkit provides a framework to evaluate emissions-reduction opportunities in maritime transport. It offers guidance to countries seeking to develop and strengthen national policy and regulatory frameworks related to the prevention of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from ships.
