Speed limits for ships can have Massive benefits

According to a recent study, cutting the speed limit of ships can have huge benefits for humans and the environment.

The speed limit of a ship would reduce the underwater noise by 66% with further reduction of the probabilities of whale accidents by 78%. Further to it, 20% reduction in the speed would cut greenhouse gases but also curb pollutants that damage human health such as black carbon and nitrogen oxides.

UN negotiators have a planned a meet-up, in London, to consider proposals to control maritime speeds. Seas at Risk and Transport & Environment carried out groups on existing research which suggests that reducing down ship speed is a good indication to control greenhouse gases.

Ocean Shipping Industry, with vessels of all sorts and sizes, are responsible for the transport of around 80% of the world's goods by volume. Nevertheless, they are also responsible for a significant portion of global greenhouse emissions and generates roughly 3% of global warming gases. For an instance cutting down black carbon will help to limit climate warming in the Arctic region because when ships engine burns fuel in the icy northern waters, the particles often fall on snow, which restricts and reduce its ability to reflect sunlight, which accelerates heating in the Arctic region.

Analyzing the study, it’s believed to gain the benefit for climate, human health, and marine life along with economic benefits as it would be saving a lot of money for the shipping industry.

Plans to reduce the speed of ships are among the ideas that will, at the meeting of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in London. Many shipping companies are in slowing down but are not supported by some of the biggest names in the trade.

One of the proposals from France focused on oil tankers and bulk carriers but not containers or cruise ships. Denmark is proposing that the industry has a goal-based standard, where it is up to the individual shipping companies as to how they meet it.

Industry experts believe that industry will move to alternative fuels with the medium to long term, but there is substantial pressure from many countries and shipping companies, for effective short term measures to limit emissions.

Supporters believe that whatever the decision taken by IMO eventually will have an impact on the industry.

Source: https://www.bbc.com