It is now many years since the world last experienced the very large and very frightening oil spills of the Exxon Valdez and Torrey Canyon kind. Thankfully, tanker owners, charterers, and governments have learnt that such "accidents" are good for neither business nor the environment. They know very well that prevention of pollution is far more effective and much cheaper than cure. It was those kinds of massive spills that alerted the world to the long-term dangers of sea pollution.
Unfortunately, however, there are many other polluters ranging in scale from the suburban vandal who dumps his worn out sump oil down the storm drain to the very rare ship that loses its fuel oil following a grounding or collision. There are also the far too many millions of the world's populace who heedlessly and irresponsibly dump their aluminium soda cans and bottles wherever.
Irrespective of massive educational campaigns by governments and NGOs, too many people, particularly in poor countries and, strangely, Italy, continue to pollute massively. Gravity ensures that most of that pollution ends up in the sea. That is why the world needs pollution control or recovery vessels.
So, that is why this week, Baird Maritime presents the latest developments in marine pollution control and recovery. It is a global review that highlights some of the latest very innovative and effective solutions to this major global problem. Again, we trust that the presentation both informs and inspires.
– "These are the tankers we remember by name, for no other reason than their losses led to huge regulatory changes and changes to the design of hulls and navigational controls."
– by Kent Stewart, founder of maritime consultancy Maritime Engineers and Baird Maritime's resident expert on commercial shipping and the offshore industries
– "The system can accurately and precisely detect different sizes of plastic and display this data to enhance user performance, while also providing key information both prior to and after clean-up operations."
Remember to come back every day to see the latest news, opinion and vessel reviews!
Any news or views about the global tug and salvage sectors? Send it through to editor@bairdmaritime.com ASAP (between now and October 15), so we can add it to this current edition of Pollution Control Week!
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