IMO Mandate For Low Sulphur Fuel Results in High Black Carbon Emissions Endangering Arctic
Black carbon emissions from a single ship, the icebreaker CCGS Terry Fox, hanging in the air near Iqaluit, Nunavut. (Source: Fiona Paton under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
In an effort to reduce sulphur emissions in marine transport new rules require a switch from heavy fuel oil to very low sulphur fuel oil. Now scientists and environmentalists are sounding the alarm as this new type of fuel can unexpectedly result in high levels of black carbon – a pollutant especially harmful to the Arctic environment.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has mandated the use of very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) in marine shipping starting January 1, 2020. This regulation is part of IMO’s 2020 program aimed at reducing sulphur emissions from marine transport by 80 percent. In contrast to heavy fuel oil (HFO), which contains up to 3.5% sulphur, VLSFO may only contain 0.5%.
Less than a month into these rules, a new study funded by Germany and Finland, in cooperation with DNV GL and marine engine manufacturer MAN, indicates that the switch from sulphur-rich HFO to VLSFO may have unintended negative consequences as it can increase black carbon emission by up to 85%.
“The results clearly indicate that new blends of marine fuels with 0.5% sulphur content can contain a large percentage of aromatic compounds which have a direct impact on black carbon emissions,” the study concludes.
“If immediate action isn’t taken by the International Maritime Organization, the shipping industry’s use of low sulphur shipping fuels (VLSFO) - introduced to comply with the 2020 sulphur cap - will lead to a massive increase in black carbon emissions,” states Dr Sian Prior, Lead Advisor to the Clean Arctic Alliance”.
Black carbon and the Arctic
A number of environmental organizations, including the WWF and Pacific Environment, have submitted briefs to the IMO urging it to implement new rules addressing the black carbon issue as soon as possible.
“This is an extremely urgent matter, especially for the Arctic as black carbon emissions occurring there have a disproportionately larger impact on Arctic warming. At a time when ship traffic in the Arctic is increasing, it is vital that immediate actions be taken,” affirms Jim Gamble, Arctic Program Director at Pacific Environment, an environmental organization.
Black carbon, a form of aerosol, forms as a result of incomplete fuel combustion and after CO2, it is considered the most impactful emission in terms of climate change. It is usually short-lived staying in the atmosphere for up to two weeks. However, especially in the Arctic region it has a significant impact as it settles on the ice.
Pollution including black carbon settling on ice and snow. (Source: Sheila Sund under CC BY 2.0)
Black carbon emissions in the Arctic region can significantly reduce the albedo, or reflectivity, of sea ice and snow-covered ground amplifying the melting of ice and result in increased warming globally. The issue is of such major importance that the Arctic Council adopted a resolution in 2017 calling for a 33 percent reduction of black carbon in the Arctic by 2025. And the IMO aims to adopt a ban on fuel oil for the Arctic by 2021.
Slow ships mean more black carbon
The study concludes that black carbon emissions from low sulphur fuels are especially strong when marine engines are operated at less than full power. This is of particular concern for the Arctic, as ships navigating across the Arctic Ocean rarely travel at full speeds when passing through sea ice or in escort behind icebreakers. In fact data shows that ships transiting along the NSR average less than ten knots, around half of the average speed of cargo ships in temperate waters.
More black carbon from VLSFO
As the result of the new IMO regulation, refineries have switched to new types of blended fuels which include high levels of aromatic compounds. In order for VLSFO to combust efficiently and work with a wide range of engine types, low-sulphur fuel routinely relies on high levels of aromatic compounds. It is these aromatic compounds, e.g. benzene and toluene, the study concludes, that contribute to high levels of black carbon emissions.
Emissions emanating from a single cargo ship. (Source: Cyprien Hauser under CC BY-ND 2.0)
“In an attempt to reduce the cost of creating IMO 2020 compliant fuels and maintain a semblance of business as usual, the refining industry has created a range of new blended fuels that could overnight send ship-sourced black carbon emissions soaring,” a statement submitted to the IMO reads.
Environmental organizations also ask how marine fuel experts could not have foreseen the effects of elevated aromatics on black carbon emissions. “At a time of climate crisis and knowing that the IMO has worked for nearly 10 years to reduce black carbon emissions from shipping, we feel that the marine fuel industry needs to explain how this could have happened,” asserts Gamble.
Black carbon pollution (red) seen around the world in this NASA image from 2018. (Source: NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center under CC BY-NC 2.0)
What needs to be done
Currently, there are no limits on aromatic compounds or the resulting black carbon as part of IMO regulations. Environmental advocates call on the IMO to develop global rules prohibiting fuels resulting in high levels of black carbon emissions as quickly as possible.
“The IMO must support an immediate switch to distillate fuels in the Arctic for all shipping and develop a global rule prohibiting fuels with high black carbon emissions,” Dr Prior concludes.
The IMO's Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 7) is slated to discuss the issue during its next session 17-21 February. For specific actions, however, the IMO "will have to wait for the Member States to discuss the matter," the organization explained in an emailed statement.
Thus in the meantime, voluntary efforts will be key in protecting the marine environment. “We are calling on ship owners, charterers, fuel providers, and other stakeholders to implement measures on a voluntary basis while new regulations are developed and enter into force,” explains Gamble. Indeed, there has been a recent push by some major shipping companies to voluntarily step away from Arctic shipping altogether.
Based on documents submitted to the IMO, the seriousness of the unanticipated black carbon side-effects can not be overstated: “[Blended fuels with high black carbon emissions] would undermine IMO's attempt at tackling shipping's contribution to the climate crisis and would seriously aggravate global efforts to combat climate change in general and warming in the Arctic in particular.”