Independent: Shipping pollution 'far more damaging than flying'

[arenean]

New research suggests that the impact of shipping on climate change has been seriously underestimated and that the industry is currently churning out greenhouse gases at nearly twice the rate of aviation.

Shipping, although traditionally thought of as environmentally friendly, is growing so fast that the pollution it creates is at least 50 per cent higher than previously thought. Maritime emissions are also set to leap by 75 per cent by 2020.
:
:
:
Since the 1970s, the bulk of commercial vessels have run on heavy "bunker" fuel, a by-product of the oil refining process for higher grade fuels. One industry insider described it as "the crap that comes out the other end that's half way to being asphalt". It has potentially lethal side effects such as the release of sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulphuric acid.

Full article: Shipping pollution 'far more damaging than flying'

[lvx35]

1. Its good they identified it.

I wonder if making ships green might be a viable way to take a chunk out of global carbon emissions.

[razzleberry]

2. this story is complete garbage

completely ignored, is ...

shipping is vital, aviation is largely recreational

and

the difference is amounts of cargoe carried.

[XemaSab]

4. It's like the whole "Busses spew out more exhaust than cars" crap...

Yeah, but they're carrying more people, Einstein. :P

[Islander Expat]

3. They learned how to run diesels with heavy fuel in the 70's, bunker C has been around for ages

And like the previous poster mentioned, shipping is a lot more fuel efficient method of moving cargo and people than flying.

People WILL be going back to riding ships for transportation in the future. You can bet on it.

[BeFree]

5. Way high in the sky

.... where the greenhouse gas problems are born, giant ships exhaust their plumes of carbon....


Meanwhile back here on the surface where the carbon is absorbed....