Russia has the longest Arctic coastline and has invested heavily in Arctic ports and infrastructure, so it will come as no surprise that most of the ships operating in the Arctic are Russian-flagged and that these ships use and carry large amounts of fuel, including HFO
This infographic explores, how and where heavy fuel oil (HFO) is being used in the Arctic – and who is using it.
In April 2018, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) committed to develop a ban on HFO for use and carriage as fuel by ships in Arctic waters, on an appropriate timescale, on the basis of an assessment of the impacts.
An impact assessment methodology should follow these 5 STEPS
A Report by the Danish Ecological Council
This publication focuses on air pollution with CO₂, SO₂, NOx and fine/ultrafine particles from shipping, technical solutions, existing regulation, the need for further regulation and enforcement. The purpose is to inspire decision-makers and other key stakeholders to implement more ambitious regulation as well as enforcement to reduce air pollution from shipping to the benefit of shipping as a business, the climate, public health and nature.
Five briefing papers prepared by Bryan Comer PhD, The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT)
The use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) as a marine fuel poses serious environmental and economic risks, especially in ecologically sensitive areas like the Arctic. Using HFO is risky not only because of potential fuel oil spills, but also because burning it produces harmful air and climate pollutants, including black carbon (BC). As ship traffic increases in the Arctic, the risk to the Arctic environment and its peoples will also increase.
These briefings look at HFO use by flag state, ship type, ship owner, cruise ships, fishing vessels in the IMO Polar Code Arctic, 2015.
To address the impact of ship Black Carbon (BC) emissions on the Arctic, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has been tasked with developing a definition for black carbon, deciding on best methodology for measuring black carbon, and identifying abatement options. A considerable number of black carbon abatement options exist with varying reduction potential of BC emissions. Some are readily available, some in development, some expensive, some cheaper. This infographic goes through some of the most effective abatement options and depicts their advantages and drawbacks based on the most up to date scientific literature.
An ICCT report by Bryan Comer, Naya Olmer, Xiaoli Mao, Biswajoy Roy, and Dan Rutherford
Ships are an efficient way to move cargo, transporting approximately 80% of the world’s goods by volume, but ships also threaten human health, ecosystems, and the climate. This report focuses on the air and climate pollutant black carbon (BC). This report presents a bottom-up, activity-based global inventory of BC emissions, residual fuel use, and residual fuel carriage from commercial ships in the global fleet for the year 2015. In addition, the report analyzes the BC reduction potential of four technology scenarios: switching all ships from residual to distillate fuels; switching some ships from residual or distillate fuel to LNG; installing exhaust gas cleaning systems on ships; and installing diesel particulate filters (DPFs).
A WWF report by Alexander Klimentyev, Alexey Knizhnikov, Alexey
The Arctic region of Russia is considered to be one of the key economic areas and can open up a crucial transit route, connecting Europe and Asia.
A unique feature of this route is that there is a possibility to set up LNG bunkering facilities along almost the entire length of it, using natural gas from on- and offshore deposits.
This report presents data, facts and arguments for wide LNG implementation in Russian Arctic.
Launched in January 2017 by the Clean Arctic Alliance and cruise ship operator Hurtigruten, this leaflet explains the aims of the Arctic Commitment which are to encourage stakeholders to urge the IMO to phase out HFO use in Arctic shipping and urge shipping companies in the Arctic to switch from the use of HFO to cleaner fuels.
An infographic for The Clean Arctic Alliance
Oil spills from ships in the Arctic are nearly impossible to respond to and clean up. Find out why in this infographic, and what the gaps are in the plans and standards currently in place to regulate oil spill response in Nunavut and Beaufort Sea, Canada.