It’s actually quite peculiar there are no speed limits for ships. They are free to do as they wish out in the deep ocean, and their emissions go largely uncontrolled. They also injure and kill an alarming number of whales without much of a murmur according to International Whaling Commission. Therefore, it’s probably a good thing the International Maritime Commission is considering imposing speed limits.
International Shipping Responds to Speed Limits for Ships
There has been a predictable howl of protest in the shipping industry. Some large operators favor power limitation to meet emission targets. Baby boomers still remember how they felt too, when speed limits finally came to country roads.
However, one shipping owner told Matt McGrath of BBC News on 11 November 2019, “Slow steaming not only reduces the fuel costs. That’s because its application does not require time-consuming procedures as it can be implemented instantly. Moreover, it requires no investment from ship owners, can be easily monitored, and is the most efficient means of slashing CO2 emissions.”
Benefits that Would Accrue Instantly If We Did This
Speed limits for ships are therefore easy to implement and governments can do this right away. The Paris Agreement is silent about marine transport. However, in April 2018 the global shipping industry did agree to cut emissions by 50% by 2050, compared to 2009. Marine emissions are currently 3% of the world total, and that’s equal to those of Germany.
Therefore, a 20% speed reduction would reduce greenhouse gases according to campaigners Seas at Risk, and Transport & Environment. And it would curb harmful black carbon and nitrous oxides too. Moreover, it would also reduce whale collisions by 78% according to marine scientists, and cut underwater noise by 66%.
However – and most importantly – speed limits for ships would slow climate change in the Arctic. And this will mitigate global warming and rising ocean levels too. This appears to be a no-brainer and perhaps it is time we did it.
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Preview Image: Another Whale Tragedy
Video Share Link: https://youtu.be/2tR4-1aXx14
