Bill C-64 in protection of Canada’s marine environment launchedSOURCE: Safety4SeaRead original article here.The Government of Canada via its 'Ocean Protection Plan' is acting to prevent its eco-marine environment from being affected as wrecked, abandoned, and hazardous vessels, including small boats,…
Elizabeth Weise, SOURCE: USA TODAY Read full article here. SAN FRANCISCO – On Sept. 8, an ungainly, 2,000-foot-long contraption will steam under the Golden Gate Bridge in what’s either a brilliant quest or a fool's errand. Dubbed the Ocean Cleanup Project, this giant sea…
NAMEPA took on the issue of marine debris 10 years ago as a way to reach and educate the public to “Save our Seas”. More recently, we helped promote the idea of reducing the use of straws. How does this affect the maritime industry? As the public awareness and advocacy of environmental issues grows, they will be looking at industry’s that do not seem to be reducing their impact on the environment. It is important that shipping be seen as proactive in this regard, or the “power of the public” will turn to us.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is the most recent step towards lessening environmental impacts in the fueling industry. LNG occurs when natural gas is taken from a gaseous form and turned into liquid form. The benefit of using LNG is that it is non-pressurized, and is therefore easier and safer to transport. LNG is only 1/600ths the volume of natural gas in the gaseous state, so more can be shipped at a time. It is win-win for ships as LNG is easier to transport, more fuel efficient, and better for the environment because burning LNG results in less carbon emissions that other forms of fuel. Burning LNG releases 50-60% less carbon than coal. LNG is still a fossil fuel and does have impacts on the environment, but the impacts are less than traditional forms of fuel.
Single-use disposable plastic bags are causing more harm than good for the environment. Even though they are convenient to carry groceries, they are anything but convenient for the planet. When improperly disposed of, a plastic bag can easily be carried by the wind to our oceans. Due to their lightweight design, even if it was thrown out far from water, it can still end up in the sea.
The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) is excited to announce that our newest educational resource, the Marine Industry Learning Guide, is now available for free download. This guide was created for anyone looking to educate others, whether in a formal or non-formal setting, on the importance of the marine industry in our everyday lives as we strive to bridge the gap between commerce and conservation. The activities provided in this comprehensive resource will aid in increasing awareness of the marine industry's dedication to the health and safety of its crew, the environment and its fleet.
Ballast water is one of the most prominent topics in the maritime industry today. It spans the shipping industry, the environmental community, and the actions of maritime industry policymakers. Because it is so far reaching, it is important to understand not only what ballast water is, but how it affects the marine environment and maritime industry.
The University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s newly formed chapter of UNCW NAMEPA helped celebrate World Ocean Day at a special event on campus June 8th. UNCW NAMEPA’s leadership participated in the event to help educate families in the community. We had a great time with the families who came to this special event! We were able to teach people of all ages how long certain types of trash remain in the ocean by having them play a matching game thanks to supplies provided by NAMEPA and Marine Quest.
Did you know that NAMEPA offers an immersive internship program for high school and college students to Save Our Seas? Check out what our spring interns from high schools in Connecticut said about their experience!
In June of 2018, NAMEPA traveled to Washington DC to attend Capitol Hill Ocean Week, affectionately known as CHOW. CHOW is a 3 day conference where scientists, politicians, educators, entrepreneurs, and innovators gather together to discuss the latest in marine research and methods for protecting our oceans.