Impacts of Shipping on the Marine Environment
Discharges at Sea
In comparison to other means of transport, shipping remains by far the most energy efficient. However, shipping does come at a cost. Intentional and unintentional discharges at sea have ongoing negative effects globally on ocean life.
Emissions into the Air
Air pollution has been an important environmental issue since the 1970s. However, air pollution regulations for seagoing ships have been relatively recent. In the last decade. Since 1997, the IMO has been actively working at regulating the emission of polluting substances by ships (MARPOL Annex VI).
Antifouling, Invasive Species, & Ship Recycling
In addition to the six MARPOL Annexes, IMO conventions address antifouling systems used on ships, the transfer of alien species by ballast water and the environmentally sound recycling of ships.
Collisions Between Ships & Whales – Ship Strikes
As international maritime traffic continues to grow and the speed of ships increases, the risk of collisions is also increasing, with serious consequences for species such as whales.