Tag Archives: sustainability

Will emissions pledge sound the death knell for LNG as a fuel?

Posted on October 20, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Amazon, IKEA, Unilever– major names in commerce, and major users of ocean shipping. And others as well, they have signed a pledge to make sure their shipping is zero-carbon powered by 2040.

That’s a long time away, 20 years; the approximate lifetime of a ship. but it means that these shippers will not be booking on LNG powered vessels.

So is LNG-powered shipping marked for extinction?

I think it’s very possible. Aside from its use of fossil fuel, though cleaner than traditional bunkers, there’s the problem of methane emission.That requires even more re-engineering. In the oil field, despite the fact that the technology is readily available, methane emissions and flaring are still common. It’s a governance question. Better to avoid fossil fuel products altogether.

Sam Chambers October 20, 2021

Will emissions pledge sound the death knell for LNG as a fuel? – Splash247

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US Coast Guard boards MSC ship in ongoing California pipeline spill probe

Posted on October 18, 2021 by | 1 comment

It is possible that anchor dragging by a ship months ago was responsible for the pipeline spill off Huntingdon Beach CA that appeared just recently.

While it wasn’t a large spill, the sensitive nature of the area requires a full investigation.

Perhaps we will ultimately find out how the spill happened. The investigation will help ordinary folks reflect on the wisdom of allowing pipelines and drilling so close to large populated areas with beautiful, heavily used beaches.

Sam Chambers October 18, 2021

US Coast Guard boards MSC ship in ongoing California pipeline spill probe – Splash247

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Bangladesh shipbreaking sector sees highest quarterly death toll

Posted on October 7, 2021 by | Leave a comment

What happens to ships that nobody wants anymore?

The lifetime of a ship is roughly 20 years, before it is no longer economical to repair it. And technology advances may make a ship obsolete before that. So when no one wants it, what happens?

Used ships are sold to salvage brokers, who arrange for them to be disposed of for the value of steel they contain. As you probably know, used steel is an important additive to make new steel. And some of the plates and members have some use in other projects. Shipbreakers take on theships from the brokers, and cut them up.

In the US and EU, this is done in dry docks, with careful supervision. But another way to do it is to drive the ship onshore in Bangladesh, where a horde of workers armed with torches and so on cuts it up. Accidents are likely to happen.

Last quarter lots of accidents happened. Read the article.

The NGO tracking the deaths thinks the ship broker shold stop dealing with Bangladeshi operations that are not properly regulated. Perhaps that broker should be boycotted by those selling ships.

Another view is that Bangladesh is a poor country and this type of operation provides work and income for people who otherwise would have no jobs. But that doesn’t make the job safe.

Adis Ajdin October 7, 2021

Bangladesh shipbreaking sector sees highest quarterly death toll – Splash247

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