Study finds ship engine exhaust a key coastline polluter
Australian marine scientists have found that ship engine exhaust emissions cause approximately 30 per cent of man made nitrogen oxide emissions in the Australian region.
Scientists at the Australian Maritime College made the discovery after deriving data for the Australian region from an existing global study of ship emissions, and found that the emissions were spread around the coastline of Australia and across the open ocean.
Australian Maritime College senior research fellow, Laurie Goldsworthy, told the ABC that shipping is actually one of the cleanest forms of transport in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, but causes a lot of actual air pollution.
"If it's concentrated enough it can contribute to things like acid rain and eutrophication of ecosystems but its really only in very crowded shipping areas that that's been established to be a significant problem," Mr Goldsworthy said.
Mr Goldsworthy says the United States already has regulations in place around its Pacific and Atlantic coasts regarding fuel content and engine specifics on ships.
This has resulted in the development of new engine technology, he added.
"The engine manufacturers are developing the engine technology even further to reduce the emissions and...much of the pollution can be very significantly reduced - the big issue really is fuel cost."
"Burning low-sulphur marine fuels will cost shipping more...and the other question is whether refineries can supply enough."