New energy efficiency regulations for ships

Ministry of Transport and Communications
Publication date 15.7.2011 21.50
News item

The International Maritime Organization has adopted regulations that will increase the energy efficiency of new ships. The fuel consumption of new ships will decrease and carbon dioxide emissions from ships will be reduced. The newly passed regulations have been in preparation for several years. A solution was reached after intensive negotiations that lasted the entire week.

A step forward was taken in the enhancement of the state of the Baltic Sea when the IMO decided to designate it as a special area where passenger ships are not allowed to release into the sea raw sewage that has not been treated as far as nutrients are concerned. According to the new regulations, passenger ships can either discharge their wastewater at ports or treat it at their own wastewater treatment plants. This will reduce nutrient load particularly at shipping lanes with heavy traffic.