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Ahead on the Environment

Shipping has an impact on the environment and, conversely, climate change has repercussions for shipping. This is a key area where Shoreline is helping to build environmental awareness, industry-wide.

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We are pleased to have as our  environmental consultant Dr. Anthony Knap, Director & Professor, Geochemical and Environmental Research Group of Texas A&M University in Texas USA.  Bermuda born, Anthony’s expertise is in the intersection between business and science, and especially the effects on regional and global climate and how these changes affect the oceans and business. He is a well-respected speaker, and panel and Board member, with oil spills a specialism. Anthony is experienced in running large organizations, including as former President and Director of the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences.

Below newsletters and articles are presented by Dr. Knap.

  • The Use of Chemical Dispersants in Oil Spills

    The use of chemical dispersants in oil spills has been controversial over many years. Some studies show that they are effective and other studies show they are not, some show they are toxic to marine organisms, others demonstrate that they are not toxic. Finally a definitive study was released last week by the US National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) which provides more clarity on the use of dispersants.

    Read more  

  • Exhaust Gas Scrubbers for Shipping

    A subject of high controversy is the installation of exhaust gas scrubber on ships to reduce the sulphur emissions from stacks from ships which utilize high sulphur fuel. The IMO have established the regulation and ships have until 2020 to comply. 

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  • Effects of the Shipping Industry of Sound in the Sea

    The shipping industry has been interested in Sound propagation primarily due to concerns of crew performance and safety. A noisy ship can have affects on crew tiredness etc. and therefore the IMO have introduced the Noise Code on board commercial ships (Resolution A.468[XII] IMO 1981). This code applies to all ships over 1600 G.T. there are a number of exceptions (pipe laying, offshore drilling units etc.). Overall this Code is designed to prevent hazardous noise. There are also regulations for passenger ships and are defined for Decibel (sound power) for specific passenger spaces.

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  • Hurricane Harvey and Climate Change

    Many people want to know if Hurricane Harvey was caused by a warming climate. The quick answer to the question is “Good Question”. Frankly we are in no position to tell categorically as land-falling hurricanes are rare events and we do not have the data of atmospheric circulation, ocean heat content and other parameters all together.

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  • The Macondo Oil Spill: Environmental Perspective

    The environmental perspective on the explosion and oil release from the Deepwater Horizon Offshore drilling rig

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  • Oceans: Resetting the Ocean Conveyor Belt

    When we think about the climate, we think about the atmosphere. Changes in the atmosphere – winds, clouds, precipitation, even thunderstorms – seem to give us weather, and it’s the accumulation of carbon and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that is gradually warming the planet. But the atmosphere is just one part of the climate story, and it’s not even the biggest one.

    Read more (Time Magazine)  

  • Monitoring Climate Change in the Ocean's 'Most Studied Spot'

    "The thing about oceanography is that it is a very collegial profession." So says Tony Knap, director of the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS), and given the backdrop – aboard BIOS's multimillion-dollar research ship the HSBC Atlantic Explorer, with the sun shining and the Atlantic Ocean rolling behind him – it's hard to argue.

    Read more (Time Magazine)  

  • Bermuda Atlantic Time-Series Study (BATS)

    The longest continuous ocean time-series of seawater carbon dioxide levels and the impact of ocean acidification on seawater pH and aragonite (calcium carbonate) saturation states.

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