Reduced sulphur marine fuels result in increased black carbon

To reduce sulphur oxide emissions from the shipping industry, which cause air pollution, the International Maritime Organisation imposed a sulphur cap on marine fuels. This has led to a fuel switch to very low sulphur fuel oils (VLSFO), which has had unintended consequences. The combustion of VLSFO leads to a significant increase in black carbon emissions due to its high content of aromatic compounds. Black carbon is an aerosol that contributes significantly to global warming and air pollution with adverse effects on human health and the environment.

Nº 107
  • Climate & Atmosphere
  • Transport Emission Reduction
  • Reduction of Shipping Emissions
some attempts made
past case
Region-1
Region-2
Region-3
Region-4
ongoing case
no attempts made

None

Reduced sulphur marine fuels result in increased black carbon

To reduce sulphur oxide emissions from the shipping industry, which cause air pollution, the International Maritime Organisation imposed a sulphur cap on marine fuels. This has led to a fuel switch to very low sulphur fuel oils (VLSFO), which has had unintended consequences. The combustion of VLSFO leads to a significant increase in black carbon emissions due to its high content of aromatic compounds. Black carbon is an aerosol that contributes significantly to global warming and air pollution with adverse effects on human health and the environment.

Black carbon emissions have increased in the Arctic in recent years. Ships using heavy fuel oils that have switched to very low sulphur fuel oils (VLSFOs) tend to emit more black carbon. There have been calls for ships to switch from these types of fuel to distillates or other clean fuels when in the Arctic, as this can reduce black carbon emissions by a third.

  • The problem-shift had no effect on the efforts to address the initial problem
  • Singular (only one effect)

Marine Insight. (2020). Impacts Of Black Carbon Emissions From Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oils. Marine Insight. https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/impacts-of-black-carbon-emissions-from-very-low-sulphur-fuel-oils/

Ji, C., & El-Halwagi, M. M. (2020). A data-driven study of IMO compliant fuel emissions with consideration of black carbon aerosols. Ocean Engineering, 218, 108241.

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