THE Canadian Shipowners Association has questioned the science behind more stringent vessel permits issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency, saying new standards could threaten the commercial viability of its members.
"Our members have tried to find solutions to comply with a problem that has yet to be quantified clearly with science. Its application to Canadian domestic vessels calls into question the scientific basis for the permit," said Robert Lewis-Manning, president of the Canadian Shipowners Association.
"We are calling on the government of Canada to continue working with us to develop a flexible, bi-national non-discriminatory regime that will keep ships sailing while protecting the marine environment," he said.
Mr Lewis-Manning also said the US permit "could damage business by significantly increasing costs, negatively affecting Canadian commodity movements and Canadian vessel trading patterns, and shifting them to road and rail."
Traditionally, Canadian iron ore and pig iron ingots have moved by lake ships from mines in the Canadian province of Quebec to steel mills in the American state of Ohio on the southern shores of Lake Erie.
The EPA on March 28 issued a final vessel general permit regulating discharges from commercial vessels to replace the 2008 permit due to expire on December 19, reported American Shipper. The new permits cover commercial vessels greater than 79 feet in length, excluding military and recreational vessels.
The permit regulates 27 specific discharge categories, and EPA said it will provide improvements to the efficiency of the permit process, and clarify discharge requirements.
The agency also said it will reduce the risks of introducing invasive species, by including a more stringent numeric discharge standard limiting the release of non-indigenous invasive species in ballast water, said the report.
The US Coast Guard's ballast water discharge standards require some seagoing vessels of less than 1,600 gross registered tons to install ballast water treatment systems.
For its part the American Waterways Operators said in its newsletter "Ballast water treatment technologies are not commercially available or economically achievable for vessels in this size class."
SHIPPING NEWS
15 April 2013 - 22:36
Canadian shipowners question scientific basis for stricter EPA permits
THE Canadian Shipowners Association has questioned the science behind more stringent vessel permits issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency, saying new standards could threaten the commercial viability of its members.
SHIPPING NEWS
15 April 2013 - 22:36
Canadian shipowners question scientific basis for stricter EPA permits
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