Beginning August 1, cruise ships touring Alaska and all ships traveling within 200 miles of US coasts will have to begin reducing their sulfur dioxide emissions.
Barely covered in the press, this a big deal and a major accomplishment for President Obama. Each day you spend on that cruise ship you are part of the air pollution problem - your ship is emitting sulfur dioxide equal to 13.1 million cars a day bc it burns a particularly heavy fuel. By 2015 the sulfur content of their fuel which now totals 2.7% must drop to .1 per cent.
We have known this for years but past administrations just could not get the job done.
The EPA estimates that by 2030 between 12000 to 31000 premature deaths from air pollution will be prevented. That’s a lot.
The costs? Well your cruise ship ticket will go up and they may start charging you for that midnight buffet. And the cruise lines will probably lose some profit margin.
But for those of you who lived in LA in the 1970s when the weatherman would start his weather report each day with the Smog Level, you know that air pollution regulations really do change the quality of life for everyone.
For everyone on the Board who loves to trash the President, let’s give Mr. Obama some credit for this one.
One that I don't opposse, hey if people want to float around on a disease infested boat go for it.
My question is what about the cargo ships? They must burn a whole lot more fuel than a cruise ship.
I know Obama or any other President is not going to impose more taxes on shipping or the shipping industry. I have seen more money thown at ports than anything else in this country many ports have purchased foreign made cranes. Spent money on dreddging, and the biggest waste port security, if we made things here we wouldn't need to import all the usless junk from China.
I'd call this another flop by the Democrats
understand it.
Unlike many cruise ships where the bulk of the cruise may be within the 200 mile limit, international cargo ships spend only a fraction of their time within 200 miles of the US coast. Apparently, they feel they can meet the new standards without undue costs according to the article I read.
But you are right -new taxes on the shipping industry would be tough. Having made the bad decision to buy Dryships, Inc. about 5 years ago (don't tell St. Croix I bought this one) I can attest first hand to how badly they are struggling bc of the overcapacity and the global slowdown.
How can we improve the economy if everything is imported. We sure wont be able to grow the economy. We are in a global slowdown, the way we do things in America will have to change.
I do agree with what you said.
-- Modified on 7/23/2012 10:53:32 PM
Most ships these days, both cruise and cargo burn MDO (marine diesel oil) which is basically number 2 fuel oil. In the refining process of these products a significant amount of sulfur is removed, and has to be due to the nature of the diesel power plant.
Vessels that have a gas turbine power plant use basically jet fuel and that is a low to no sulfer fuel, again because of the power plant.
The problem will be for ship owners who still have ships that have a steam turbine power plant as those boilers use bunker c (number 6 fuel oil) and that stuff is high in sulfur (depending the grade of crude used in the refining process) and must go through an additional process to refine it out and there is cost involved in that.
Also keep in mind that much of the crude that is used for fuel products is sweet (low sulfur content) crude to begin with. Such as most if not all of all the Arabian crudes, North Sea crude and some West African crude.
Much of the Mexican and Venezuelan crude is sour (high sulfur content) crude.
Also I believe that California has had this kind of regulation in force for many years already.
2012 = GOP
than I do but just from reading the article I would make two comments.
If the EPA estimate that this would save 12,000 to 30,000 lives in only 20 years has any validity whatsoever, this regulation would seem to be long overdue.
As to overlapping California regulation, I would be surprised to learn that is true. Maritime jurisdiction out to the 200 mile limit is federal; I suppose California can impose some requirements for its harbors but surely not out to sea like the EPA regs.
How in the world can the EPA make that statement with a straight face?
I mean really, let's think about it, how can they or anyone estimate that between 12,000 to 30,000 lives will be saved in 20 years due to lower sulfur content in marine fuels?
I’m all for clean air, and I would like to know how they came up with that number.12 to 30 k that is some range. As you said IF it has any validity, and I question the validity, but regardless of the validity there is nothing wrong with clean air.
Also with technology and advances in marine prolusion power plants, the power plants will more and more require cleaner burning fuels (not just low/no sulfur) to run efficiently and lower preventive and corrective maintenance time and cost.
As for CA I know the regs. apply to all vessels entering the ports and harbors, and perhaps (not 100% sure) out to 3 miles.
Thank You
2012 = GOP
This is the Shovel Ready Administration.
and early 50's, when it was legal for residents to burn their trash. Some days, you couldn't see across the street. Schools would fly a red flag and students were not allowed outside for recess.
...in the backyards, but you couldn't use them anymore.
Remember Mayor Sam Yorty? He got elected by promising that residents wouldn't have to separate their trash anymore. He won, we stopped recycling but now we're doing it again.
The same with public transportation - L.A. got rid of the Red Cars (electric-powered trains) in favor of buses, more freeways and cars.. This was used as the plot for "Who Framed Roger Rabbit." Today, L.A. is bringing back the electric trains too.
I remember Yorty's campaign. My summer jobs during the last 3 years of high school was working for a company, Barr Demolition, Inc., that was demolishing houses to make way for part of the Hollywood freeway. Operating the wrecking ball was an experience I'll never forget.
maybe we could giant windmills on these ships?
I wasn't even born in the 60's.
The best solution to air pollution is for someone to release a virus that causes the zombie apocalypse. Say what you will about zombies, but their carbon footprint is near zero.
We plan on getting older too, right BP, lol?