UN bulk liquids. gas panel devise tough ship air pollution rules

TOUGH new air pollution rules have been ratified by the UN's International Maritime Organisation's sub-committee on bulk liquids and gases (BLG).
According to a communique from the world body, it is agreed that changes to the MARPOL (short for "marine pollution") Convention NOx Technical Code. These will be submitted to the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)to be passed at its March 31 meeting.
MEPC is expected to approve the rules before formal adoption on October 10, at which time the rules will come into force under the "tacit acceptance procedure" and 16 months (March, 2010) later, made permanent.
The working group was tasked with reviewing the six options, which the BLG committee narrowed to three.
Option 1: Global: 1 per cent (10,000 ppm maximum sulphur content) fuel standard applied in 2012. Global: 0.50 per cent (5,000 ppm maximum sulphur content) fuel standard applied in 2015.
Option 2: Global/Regional: Global cap remains unchanged at 4.50 per cent (45,000 ppm maximum sulphur content). Emission Control Areas require 0.10 per cent (1,000 ppm) standard in 2012.
Option 3: Global/Regional with Micro-Areas: Global cap is lowered to 3 per cent (30,000 ppm maximum sulphur content) in 2012. Emission Control Area standard lowered to 1 per cent (10,000 ppm) in 2010.
The Emission Control Area standard to be lowered to 0.50 per cent (5,000 ppm maximum sulphur content) in 2015.
Micro-Emission Control Areas may be established at a distance no more than 24 nautical miles from the baseline with a 0.10 per cent (1,000 ppm maximum sulphur content) standard.
The committee developed a three-tier structure for new engines, which would set tighter nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission standards. Tier I represents the 17 g/kW standard. Tier II, would see NOx levels for new engines installed from January 1, 2011 reduced 15.5 - 21.8 per cent. Geographically based Tier III would require major reductions in designated Emission Control Areas (ECAs) - a reduction of 80 per cent from Tier I levels for new builds by 2016.
The working group reviewed the issue of whether it was right to establish a standard for pre-2000 marine diesel engines and agreed to further study.