Cleaning up container ship emissions

Implementation of the three key emission abatement measures on container ships could cut emissions of air pollutants, such as SO₂, NOx, PM (including black carbon) and other air toxics, by 97–99 per cent, according to a new report by German environmental group NABU. And the impact on shipping or product prices would be very small.

Switching from high-sulphur heavy fuel oil to low-sulphur (0.005 per cent or 50 ppm) diesel fuel would increase fuel cost by approximately 45 per cent, based on market prices in the second half of 2013. As fuel costs account for around 26 per cent of the freight costs, such a fuel shift would only increase the shipping costs by twelve per cent – a cost that could be offset by means of slow steaming, i.e. reducing speed and saving fuel.

Even without such offsetting, the higher cost for diesel fuel is calculated to increase the price of a tablet PC by only by 1 eurocent, and the price of a T-shirt or a pair of shoes would go up by respectively 0.2 and 3 eurocents.

For air quality to be significantly improved, NABU argues that shipping companies should not only switch to low-sulphur diesel fuel, but also introduce efficient exhaust gas cleaning technology. Adding a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system and a diesel particulate filter (DPF) to a large container ship would each cost around €500,000. This adds up to about 1 per cent of the construction cost for a ship with a loading capacity of 10,000 to 12,000 standard containers, which is around €100 million.

Even if the cost for SCR and DPF were passed on in their entirety to the customers, this would not have a significant impact on freight rates and would therefore not significantly affect the shipping companies’ profits.

Air pollution from container ships (May 2014). Published by NABU.

In this issue

150 ways to cut GHG emissions

NGOs from eleven countries in Northern Europe have evaluated national policies used to cut greenhouse gases. Result: some 150 measures. If all repeated some of the lessons learned by their neighbours, emissions would come down fast.

Editorial: 1.5°C target can be reached

In April 2014, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a report that presented a scenario for a pathway on how to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C ..

Profitable to cut air pollution

The monetised health benefits alone of less air pollution are up to 42 times greater than the emission abatement costs. In addition there will be substantial benefits to ecosystems, forests, agricultural crops and materials.

IMO weakens NOx rules for ships

A hastily adopted compromise decision that was taken without any impact assessment, despite the risk that it will negatively affect the environment and the health of Europeans.

A changing climate creates pervasive risks

The effects of climate change are already being seen on all continents and across the oceans.

Persistent problems in meeting NOx limits

Eleven EU countries breached at least one of their air pollutant emission ceilings in 2012, preliminary data from the European Environment Agency shows.

Hidden costs make coal expensive

Unexpected costs and technical disappointments have been recurrent while building the Moorburg power station – a project that is part of a 6 GW coal power expansion in Germany.

Diet shifts could reduce nitrogen pollution

Halving the consumption of meat, dairy and eggs in Europe could reduce ammonia and other nitrogen emissions by 40 per cent.

Rise in agricultural emissions

Aggregated greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture increased by 14 per cent between 2001 and 2011, according to new data from the FAO.

SCR can cut ship NOx emissions

The technology to drastically cut ship NOx emissions is widely available, performs well, and may even slightly reduce ship fuel consumption. The costs of installation and operation are modest and expected to fall over time.

Air pollution the world’s largest environmental health risk

New figures from the WHO link indoor and outdoor air pollution to around 7 million premature deaths a year – more than double previous estimates.

Urban air quality getting worse

About half of the urban population being monitored worldwide is exposed to air pollution that is at least 2.5 times higher than the levels recommended by the WHO.

Harmful ozone levels over Europe

Ozone pollution significantly exceeded EU standards to protect health during the summer of 2013, especially in the Mediterranean and Alpine regions.

Diesel cars not as green as perceived

In Europe, diesel cars have been promoted based on the assumption that they emit less greenhouse gases (GHG) than petrol-fuelled cars and many EU member states have reduced taxes on diesel fuel and diesel car sales.

Europe’s biggest polluters

Twelve of Europe’s most polluting point sources in 2012 were found in two countries: Germany and the UK.

Main menu

Cleaning up container ship emissions

In this issue

150 ways to cut GHG emissions

Editorial: 1.5°C target can be reached

Profitable to cut air pollution

IMO weakens NOx rules for ships

A changing climate creates pervasive risks

Persistent problems in meeting NOx limits

Hidden costs make coal expensive

Diet shifts could reduce nitrogen pollution

Rise in agricultural emissions

SCR can cut ship NOx emissions

Air pollution the world’s largest environmental health risk

Urban air quality getting worse

Harmful ozone levels over Europe

Diesel cars not as green as perceived

Europe’s biggest polluters

Publications

SINK OR SOURCE? Northern Forests at a crossroads

The role of northern forests in limiting warming to 1.5°C

Protecting Northern Forests crucial for biodiversity, the climate and indigenous rights

The 100 largest industry emitters in EU-27

Road to Nowhere

Bioenergy CCS – too little, too expensive, and not net negative

Direct air carbon capture and storage - A waste of time and energy

Carbon emissions from the cement industry can be reduced without CCS

What we do

Air pollution

Climate Change

Policy initiatives

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