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Old Fossils
Under Kyoto and EU obligations the UK is committed to reducing total carbon emissions by 34% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. The UK has a legally binding obligation under the EU Renewable Energy Directive (2009) for renewable energy to account for 15% of energy by 2020. However the UK remains the only nation to […]
Posted in: Environment
Propulsion Revolution!
August 3, 2012
New Dawn Traders are a UK collective that operate through a chartered 1907 Plymouth trading ketch, Irene. They are currently trading organic cargo around South America hoping to inspire a new generation of wind-powered cargo ships. “There’s a bigger debate to be had about shipping in general. Is there an alternative to huge polluting cargo […]
Posted in: Environment, Marine
International Waters: Up in Smoke?
July 27, 2012
Emissions from shipping cannot be attributed any one country or economic bloc, so international cooperation is the most appropriate means to address the problem of smokestack emissions. This is partly why the issue is so complicated. With the IMO, UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), and EU all introducing international agreements and debating […]
Posted in: Environment, Marine
Alternatives to Bunker Fuel – Future Fuels
July 24, 2012
Marine microalgae is the world’s fastest-growing photosynthetic organism, with a biomass that can double every 8 – 12 hours. It consumes carbon dioxide and sunlight, producing up to 80% of its bodyweight in lipids. This is an exciting technology as, unlike other biofuels such as sugar beet, it does not require large amounts of land […]
Posted in: Environment, Marine
Alternatives to Bunker Fuel – LNG
July 23, 2012
Alternatives to Bunker Fuel Part 1 LNG “Future technology and innovation is needed in shipping as emission regulations and fuel prices drive change.” – Tom Boardley, Marine Director, Lloyd’s Register Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) LNG is approximately 1/600th the volume of gas in its gaseous state. Its energy density is 60% of that of diesel […]
Posted in: Environment, Marine
Sustainable Shipping Part 3 – Running on Empty
July 20, 2012
Part 3 Fuel the Fire In a move far beyond anything the IMO has dared to put forward, the EU recently voted for something approaching a US-style low-emissions zone wrapped right around Europe’s coastline. The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) issued a pre-emptive press release arguing against it: “Whilst ESPO is not seeking to reverse […]
Posted in: Environment, Marine
Sustainable Shipping Part 2 – Hit the Buffer
July 19, 2012
Part Two Hit the Buffer In this section I shall discuss some of the action taken in Europe on the problem of heavily-polluting ship emissions, 70% of which occur within 400km of land. We have already seen how the USA unilaterally declared a 230-mile wide shipping emission buffer zone of 0.1% sulphur off their entire […]
Posted in: Environment, Marine
Sustainable Shipping Part 1 – Something in the Air
July 18, 2012
Part One Something in the Air Green shoppers may try to limit the air-miles of supermarket vegetables, but few of us are likely to check things like origin of garden furniture to reduce our sea-miles. The container ship is by far the most efficient cog in our global, vertically-integrated freight network and, whether we are […]
Posted in: Environment, Marine
International Conservation Strategies
August 28, 2011
The Habitats Directive The Habitats Directive (European Union Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora) is the main nature conservation policy tool at EU level. It protects over 1,000 animal and plant species and more than 200 habitat-types. The Habitats Directive is an umbrella for the Natura 2000, an […]
Posted in: Environment, Marine
The Author
Seaspout 
August 29, 2012
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