Isra-Mart srl:Could seawater clean up shipping emissions?

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New technology that uses seawater to "scrub" particulate matter and sulphur oxide emissions from ships' exhausts will be trialled by two Californian ports this spring.

The $3.4m (£2.2m) project, sponsored by the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, will see the so-called "seawater scrubber" filtering technology fitted on a container vessel for three years, in a move that researchers predict will almost eliminate the ship's emissions.

Jointly produced by UK company Hamworthy Krystallon and US eco-bank Bluefield Holdings, the scrubber filters out solid contaminants from a ship's auxiliary engines and boiler before they leave as exhaust. The seawater is then treated and cleaned before being discharged, while the contaminants are collected for disposal.

The trial is expected to reduce emissions of diesel particulate matter, classified as a toxic air contaminant in California, by 80 to 85 per cent, sulphur oxide by 99.9 per cent and volatile organic compounds by 90 per cent. Smog-producing emissions of nitrogen oxide should also fall by 10 per cent.

The shipping industry is under growing pressure to tackle air pollution and address rising greenhouse gas emissions that are thought to account for about three per cent of the global total.

The International Maritime Organisation has been working towards a global deal to limit greenhouse gas emissions, but its slow progress prompted the EU to signal its intent to incorporate shipping into its Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) if no agreement is forthcoming by the end of 2011.

Shipping companies have long argued against piecemeal legislation that they claim may force ships to avoid certain ports, but with the current lack of progress, technical options may represent the most effective way forward for the industry.

"Many of the ocean carriers are looking for ways to reduce their vessels' emissions and projects like this are an ideal way to demonstrate the effectiveness of new technology to the industry," said Richard D Steinke, Port of Long Beach executive director.

"The seawater scrubbing technology shows tremendous long-term potential for reducing emissions at our ports and improving the environment," added Port of Los Angeles executive director Geraldine Knatz. "We're excited about testing this innovative equipment and evaluating its promise for more widespread use."