Backing for Antarctic ship review

The International Maritime Organization has invited nations to submit proposals to limit shipping's impact on Antarctica's unique environment.

The IMO's environment committee recognized campaigners' fears that the continent's waters were at risk from the rising number of ships in the area. Environmentalists said the sinking of the M/S Explorer in 2007 was a wake-up call to tighten rules in the region. The meeting also agreed to curb emissions from commercial vessels. A paper submitted by a coalition of environmental groups called for the IMO to ban ships fuelled by heavy oil or without reinforced hulls from the area's waters. It also called for restrictions on sewage and wastewater discharges to be tightened. Figures from the coalition show that the number of tourists visiting the White Continent has increased five-fold over the past 15 years. The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators shows that 37,552 tourists visited Antarctica during 2006-07, the majority arriving by sea. ASOC is concerned that many of the vessels carrying them are not ice-strengthened. This makes serious accidents more likely, and increases the risk of an oil spillage if a ship gets into trouble. The five-day meeting held in London also approved plans to amend regulations to reduce emissions from ships. The main change would lead to a reduction in sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from the world's 50,000 strong fleet. The regulations have been ratified by 49 nations, which account for almost three-quarters of the globe's merchant vessels.

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