Clean air in shipping

image

Reducing air pollutants from shipping is essential to improve air quality and reduce related health problems, especially for coastal and port populations, and also to protect the natural environment from disturbances such as acid rain. 

Since 1997, MARPOL Annex VI limits air pollutants contained in ships' exhaust gas, including sulphur oxides (SOx), particulate matter and nitrous oxides (NOx), and prohibits deliberate emissions of ozone-depleting substances (ODS). This Annex also regulates shipboard incineration and emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) from tankers.