A new sensor has been installed the Port of Zeebrugge to monitor how much, and which, substances are emitted from passing ships, which will allow for more efficient sanctioning of ships that do not comply with Marpol rules.
One of the busiest shipping routes worldwide runs along the Belgian part of the North Sea. The ships are vital to the economy, but their emissions can bring public health disadvantages. To minimise the negative effects, the North Sea and English Channel emission control area (ECA) has been established, to ensure ships meet strict emission requirements.
The new sensor can monitor the SO2, NOX2, and CO2 emissions of passing ships seven days a week from a distance of 10 km. If a ship appears to be exceeding the permitted standards, the Shipping DG will be notified. Those ships can then be targeted for further inspection with a so-called sniffer plane, which flies through the emission plumes of ships, or by boarding them.
So-called ‘sniffer’ drones have been employed in the past, but the new technology, developed by the Royal Belgium Institute for Space Aeronomy allows continuous monitoring.
Belgium’s North Sea minister Paul Van Tigchelt said: “The international goal is to get shipping to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. With new techniques, such as this sensor, we will soon be able to monitor ships to our ports 24/7. This test project in Zeebrugge proves once again that Belgium is leading the way thanks to our innovative companies and top experts in the fight against climate change.”
The sensor’s full name is Ship Emission Monitoring by Passive Remote Sensing (SEMPAS). It was initially been installed at the traffic control centre of the Scheldt Radar Chain in Zeebrugge. Later, it will be moved to a wind turbine at sea.
Image: A Belgian ‘sniffer plane’ flies over a container ship in search of illegal pollution (credit: Flanders News Service/Belga Photo Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP)
