SAFETY4SEA Log Issue 22

36 I SAFETY 4SEA log I January 2018 I ISSUE 22 safety4sea.com GREEN NEWS EU ETS excludes shipping ► EU decided to revise the EU ETS after 2020, giving time to the shipping industry to realize its initial CO2 reduction objectives by 2018, according to IMO’s Roadmap. Namely, the decision gives IMO time to adopt an initial strategy for comprehensive emissions reductions from ships in April 2018 and a final strategy in 2023. Many industry bodies have welcomed this decision by EU, which according to ICS, it demonstrates confidence within the EU institutions in the current progress being made at IMO to develop an ambitious CO2 strategy. ECSA and ESPO hailed it, noting that IMO is the organization to regulate the global industry. Danish Shipping said that this will pressure IMO to provide a strategy and the German Shipowners’ Association stressed that a global approach is the only solution to reduce CO2 emissions. USCG outlines BW compliance requirements ► Combating invasive species is a complex challenge, involving threats to environment and economy. In 2017, almost half of ballast water discharged into the US has been from overseas sources; more than 122 million cubic meters of foreign ballast water. Extensions are no longer ne- cessary for most vessels because operators are now able to select and in- stall a Coast Guard type approved BWMS. USCG expects all ballast water discharged to US waters to be managed and reported in compliance with federal regulations. For ballast water, similarly with other environmental laws, contingency planning should be included in the vessel-specific bal- last water management plan. To date, the Coast Guard has type approved six BWMSs (Alfa Laval, EcoChlor, Erma First, TeamTec OceanSaver AS, Optimarin and Sunrui), with others at or nearing completion of testing. How to make LNG a long term solution for shipping ► Although LNG is an environmentally friendly and low-cost solution, the lack of LNG infrastructure is a main challenge for the decision of operators to invest in LNG, said Karin Orsel, CEO MF Shipping & President KVNR. Another area of concern is if LNG is a long-term or a mid-term solution, ahead of technologies accelerating. To make sure it takes responsibility in the whole environmental discussion, the industry needs to innovate, she added https://goo.gl/gJcp2t Spain compensated over Prestige oil spill ► A court awarded the Spanish state a total of 1.6 billion euros in damages over the oil spill from ‘Prestige’ tanker, which broke up and sank in 2002, off Spanish coast, releasing over 20 million US gallons of oil into the water. Specifically, the Galicia government will be compensated 1.8 million euros and France, which was affected as well, 61 million euros. The ship’s captain and London P&I Club will pay one billion dollars, while the shipowner Mare Shipping and the IOPC Funds will provide the remaining amount. The incident remains Europe’s worst ecological disaster until today, causing significant damage to wildlife, environ- ment, as well as the local fishing industry. Clean Air Action Plan ap- proved ► The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach approved the 2017 Clean Air Action Plan Update, which provides guidance toward a zero-emission future while strengthening ports’ com- petitive position. https://goo.gl/xzkYYJ