EnviSuM

Sound measuring and modelling shows: environmental regulation works

Several research institutions with support of businesses and public administration from altogether seven countries took stock of the effects of SECA on human health, environment and the economy, namely the shipping sector. To this end, they used local and pan-Baltic measurements of the air composition and combined them with different models. These studies found that 1) negative economic effects of SECA concerning the rise of fuel costs and modal shift from sea to land did not occur as it was predicted; 2) the health, environmental and economic benefits of SECA outweigh the costs; 3) tight environmental regulation can encourage innovation: the reduction in emissions can create business benefits to the maritime cluster. All in all, the test case of stricter environmental limits for ships run in the Baltic Sea between 2015 and 2020 provided sound scientific evidence that the regulation works well without heavily impairing business. The results of the EnviSum project can serve decision makers in policy and business all across the globe as all coastal countries are facing the sulphur cap in 2020 and possibly new environmental regulation in the future.

Three large port cities get precise model studies on ship-borne air pollution

Next to the overall results of the model studies, the project partners carried out local studies on air pollution from ships, namely in Gothenburg (Sweden), the Tri-City (Poland) and St. Petersburg (Russia). In Poland, it was the first time that effects on shipping emissions on a local scale were inventorised and modelled. In Sweden, the local study showed that the sulphur emissions from ships decreased by 70 % within only one year, the year that the SECA regulation entered into force.

Decision support for the shipping industry

The project also addressed the shipping industry's compliance with the SECA regulation. The partners examined how efficient the different techniques for removing pollution from exhaust gases are. An online tool was set up that can help ship-owners assess the costs and benefits of the different techniques for their fleet. A study found that in general, ship-owners operating in the Baltic Sea region comply well with the SECA regulation, but compliance needs to be monitored regularly and noncompliance needs to be sanctioned in order to make the regulation effective. However, there were many challenges concerning the usability of engines and technical devices. Wide-spread air pollution control devices will not be able to match future obligations of the global marine pollution convention and need to be technically improved or replaced by better solutions.

EUR 2.22 million of support from the European Union helped policy, science and industry from across the macro-region to demonstrate how the Baltic Sea region pioneers clean shipping - in a global perspective.The results will be further used within the Clean Shipping Project Platform.