Solar Energy News  
FROTH AND BUBBLE
US cruise ship captain on trial over French pollution charges
by Staff Writers
Marseille (AFP) Oct 8, 2018

The American captain of a massive cruise ship faces trial in Marseille on Monday accused of using fuel with sulphur levels above European limits, as the Mediterranean port city grapples with the polluting effect of its drive to increase boat tourism.

The Azura, capable of carrying more than 3,000 passengers, is one of the largest in the fleet operated by P&O Cruises, whose parent company Carnival is also being charged.

Prosecutors in Marseille say it is the first time pollution charges have been lodged against a ship's captain on France's Mediterranean coast.

The city has wrestled with increased smog in recent years, as it seeks to attract more lucrative cruise tourism.

Authorities say shipping could be responsible for 10 to 20 percent of the damaging particulate matter in Marseille's air, which can cause respiratory problems and lung disease.

A spot check onboard the Azura in March found it was burning bunker fuel containing 1.68 percent sulphur, above the 1.5 percent limit.

High-sulphur fuel, which is cheaper than cleaner versions, produces sulphur oxides which contribute to acid rain and the acidification of oceans.

The ship's 58-year-old captain, whose name has not been disclosed, faces up to one year in prison and a 200,000 euro ($230,000) fine.

Tracked down by investigators a few days after the testing during a stop east of Marseille, he admitted using the fuel.

But he did not appear at a previous court hearing in July, when Carnival lawyers argued that the company was not responsible.

- Sulphur in crosshairs -

Environmental advocates say shipping is particularly harmful in Marseille, with fine particle levels 100 times higher near the city's bustling port than elsewhere in the city.

Even when docked at quai a single ship emits as much pollution as 10,000 to 30,000 cars, according to AirPaca, the regional air pollution monitoring agency.

The UN's International Maritime Organization has been lowering the allowed sulphur levels in ships for years, with a new limit of 0.5 percent coming into force in 2020.

But the NGO France Nature Environnement, which has welcomed the charges against the captain, says the new maximum is still too high.

It cites a 0.1 percent sulphur limit enforced in the Baltic Sea and other designated Sulphur Emission Control Areas, including the North Sea and along coastlines in North America and the Caribbean.

Marseille registered 1.55 million cruise ship visitors last year, and officials hope it will surpass the numbers in Venice this year to become the fourth-largest port of call for cruise ships in the Mediterranean.

The city is aiming for two million cruise line tourists in 2020.

fbe/js/klm/jta

CARNIVAL PLC


Related Links
Our Polluted World and Cleaning It Up


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


FROTH AND BUBBLE
On patrol with India's anti-plastic 'blue squad'
Mumbai (AFP) Oct 2, 2018
Wearing matching blue Nehru jackets, the dozen inspectors fan out across Mumbai's hectic Crawford Market, each scouring for violators of an ambitious plastic ban. It doesn't take Mahindra Wayangankar long to find one: a dry fruits seller, wrapping his wares in plastic, is hit with a hefty 5,000-rupee ($69) fine. Wayangankar, 50, is one of 311 officials dubbed the "blue squad" and tasked with enforcing a recent ban on single-use plastics in India's commercial capital. "The job is very stressf ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

FROTH AND BUBBLE
A biofuel for automated heat generation

Climate researchers: More green space, less biofuel

How a molecular signal helps plant cells decide when to make oil

Ready-to-use recipe for turning plant waste into gasoline

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Machine learning could help regulators identify environmental violations

Machine-learning system tackles speech and object recognition, all at once

Amazon aims to make Alexa assistant bigger part of users' lives

Spray coated tactile sensor on a 3D surface for robotic skin

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Wind turbines contribute to climate change: study

Wind Lidar company announces new turbine-mounted Lidar and formation of Measurement Services business

Wind Power: It is all about the distribution

Big wind, solar farms could boost rain in Sahara

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Honda joins forces with GM's Cruise to develop autonomous vehicles

Spanish cities grapple with invasion of electric scooters

Tesla meets Model 3 target, bemoans China tariffs

Carmakers brace for shocks as electrified future looms

FROTH AND BUBBLE
A new carbon material with Na storage capacity over 400mAh/g

What powers deep space travel

X-rays uncover a hidden property that leads to failure in a lithium-ion battery material

New battery gobbles up carbon dioxide

FROTH AND BUBBLE
TVO joins FROG as EPR reactor operator

New concept to cool boiling surface may help prevent nuclear power plant accidents

First fuel cladding tubes delivered for "Hualong-1" nuclear power plant

Framatome wins I and C modernization contract for EDF's 900 MW reactors

FROTH AND BUBBLE
How will climate change stress the power grid

Electricity crisis leaves Iraqis gasping for cool air

Energy-intensive Bitcoin transactions pose a growing environmental threat

Germany thwarts China by taking stake in 50Hertz power firm

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Climate change, pests, fallen trees a deadly recipe for US forests

How leaves talk to roots

National parks bear the brunt of climate change

Gabon pressures forestry firms on best practice









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.