Prevent pollution from ships, waste generated by shipping

This plan aims to fully and comprehensively implement the provisions of Annexes III, IV, V and VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL Convention) to which Vietnam is a signatory. in order to ensure the lawful rights and interests of coastal states, countries with ports and countries with national flags and ships.

Concern about environmental pollution from ships

Experts on the environment said that the ship is a huge source of pollution to the environment. Especially in the port and coastal cities because they use poor quality asphalt fuel, with emissions such as nitrogen oxide (NO), sulfur dioxide (SO2) very high. In addition, these wastes also created acid rain and tiny soot particles in the air.

The operation of ships (including fishing vessels and cargo ships) is one of the artificial sources that contribute significantly to air pollution.

According to US government statistics, ships are responsible for two-thirds of the SO2 emissions in the transport industry in 2002, the lack of control measures will make this rate can reach 98%. 2020.

As a result, the US government has set new emissions standards for large vessels. Accordingly, from 2015, the new ships will have to reduce 96% of SO2 compared to today. Similarly, ships built after 2016 will have to cut their emissions of NO by 80%.

The report assessing the impact of ship emissions on the health of the European Union (EU) shows that the toxic emissions from ships are killing about 39,000 people each year in Europe, of which He suffered the most damage because of the long sea route and also the busiest trading place, busy traffic.

The study also shows that the average life expectancy of people in the West of England will be reduced by 20-30 months from 2020.

Currently, the EU intends to establish the first low-emissions waters, reducing pollution from thousands of freighters moving through the waters each year. The EU will accept countries' governments to support shipping companies to meet SO2 standards strictly. In support of EU solutions, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agrees to limit the SO2 content of marine fuel sources for vessels passing through emission control areas effective from 2015.

Meanwhile, shipping companies will face the possibility of meeting low SO2 emissions and cleaner fuel costs, causing high freight rates. The EU has accepted the IMO's proposal to reduce sulfur content in marine fuels, with the sulfur limit for all vessels going to be cut to 0.5% in 2020 (currently at 3 , 5%). The limits for all ships in the Baltic and North Sea (known as controlled area emissions), will be reduced to 0.1% from 0.5% starting in 2015. Instead of using Using low sulfur fuel, ship operators can also use alternative treatment technology to clean the ship's exhaust gas to minimize pollution.

Currently, Vietnam has more than 1,700 transport ships, along with the number of fishing vessels of about 130,000, corresponding to the amount of gasoline consumed about 4 million tons / year. It can be said that this is the source of pollution for the seas, coastal areas and many places, seriously affecting the marine ecosystem, destroying marine resources, endangering human health.

The quality of Vietnamese ships is often not high, many vehicles are obsolete, backward, fuel efficiency is low and there is no exhaust treatment system ... so there are many toxic emissions such as SO2, CO2. , CO, NO2, CxHy ... The quality of Vietnamese ships is usually not high ... so it has emitted many toxic gases.

Vietnam strives to protect the maritime environment

The Prime Minister has approved the Plan for the implementation of Annexes III, IV, V and VI of the MARPOL Convention - the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.

This plan aims to fully and comprehensively implement the provisions of Annexes III, IV, V and VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL Convention) to which Vietnam is a signatory. in order to ensure the lawful rights and interests of coastal states, countries with ports and countries with national flags and ships.

According to this plan, from 2016 to 2020, the Government will review and finalize the system of legal documents on prevention of environmental pollution caused by ships and management of waste generated from ships in operation. activities of offshore oil and gas exploration and exploitation, investigation and detection of violations and maritime accidents to fully and comprehensively implement legal documents and regulations of Annexes III, IV, V and VI of the MARPOL Convention.

Annually, to implement the provisions of Annexes III, IV, V and VI of the MARPOL Convention, including inspecting and controlling the performance of national responsibility for ships bearing Vietnamese national flags. , responsibility of the coastal state and the responsibility of the port State.

In addition, strengthening the capacity to carry out the inspection and certification of Vietnamese national flag vessels, conduct maritime accident investigations, fully and promptly handle violations, including including training of port state inspection officers, port state inspection (PSC) and surveyors to assess, inspect and control the ship's systems and techniques.

From 2016 to 2030, study mechanisms and policies to invest in building and upgrading waste receiving systems at seaports in accordance with the Annexes III, IV, V and VI of the MARPOL Convention; study and apply the inspection and control equipment for waste generated from ships.

Assess the current status of environmental pollution caused by ships, the situation of waste management at Vietnamese ports and the level of compliance with the provisions of the MARPOL Convention; study, formulate and propose the establishment of environmental protection measures to prevent ship-caused pollution in Vietnamese waters for submission to the International Maritime Organization for approval; propagate, disseminate, train and train organizations and individuals involved in the implementation of the provisions of Annex III, IV, V and VI of the MARPOL Convention.

Strengthen cooperation with international organizations in the field of Maritime and other countries in the region to exchange information, technical assistance, training civil servants, management officials and staff of officers and boats personnel and technology transfer related to the implementation of the MARPOL Convention; promote bilateral cooperation with the countries party to the Convention to consult experiences and take advantage of the assistance and technical assistance of these countries.

It can be said that this is a new step in the prevention of pollution caused by ships in Vietnam. The MARPOL Convention is one of the key conventions for protecting the marine environment and Vietnam has been a party to this Convention since 1991. The Convention provides provisions to prevent pollution caused by the transport of oil-based cargoes. mines, dangerous and toxic goods, as well as water, garbage and emissions from ships.

According to the continuous development of science and technology as well as environmental issues arising in practical operations of the maritime industry (oil spill accidents, newly arising pollution issues ...), The technical requirements of the MARPOL Convention 73/78 have been supplemented and revised continuously. To date, MARPOL Convention 73/78 has 6 appendices detailing the relevant contents.