New pollution regulation in Antarctic goes into effect

New pollution regulation in Antarctic goes into effect

2011-08-02 08:39:41 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations (UN) on Monday announced that a ban on pollution from heavy grade fuel oils in the Antarctic region went into effect on Monday.

The amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships (MARPOL), which details specific densities of crude oil which should not be used in the Antarctic, forces ships plying that area with lower grade fuel will have to switch to a higher fuel while in the area.

In addition, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) said MARPOL had 136 parties, representing 98 percent of the world's shipping tonnage.

"This means, in effect, that ships trading to the area, whether passenger or cargo ships, would need to switch to a different fuel type when transiting the Antarctic area, defined as 'the sea area south of latitude 60 degrees south'," IMO stated.

Furthermore, IMO announced that MARPOL will formally establish a North American Emission Control Area (ECA), in which emissions of sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter from ships will be subject to more stringent controls than the limits that apply globally.

The ECA will take effect 12 months after the amendments enter into force on August, 1 2012. There area currently two designated ECAs, both on sulphur oxides in the Baltic Sea area and the North Sea area.

Last month, IMO adopted MARPOL amendments to designate certain waters adjacent to the coasts of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands as another ECA. The MARPOL amendments are expected to enter into force on January 1, 2013, with the new ECA taking effect 12 months later.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-08-02