Pollution by ferries under microscope
Ferries can be seen blowing plumes of dark matter in Wellington Harbour just about any day of the year.
The International Maritime Organisation treaty (Annex VI) of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) regulates ship emissions harmful to public health.
Dr Bevan Marten, from Victoria University’s school of law, said that in the past the New Zealand view was it was ‘‘just too small, and can’t contribute’’ to an international solution.
New Zealand and Mexico are the only countries in the OECD not signed up to the agreement, which has 86 signatory nations.
This month, the Ministry of Transport opened consultation for New Zealand to sign as well.
Ministry manager of international connections Tom Fors- ter said benefits included reduced carbon emissions and improved air quality.
‘‘We now need to consider the impact increasing ship traffic, including cruise ships, has on our health and our environment.’’
As well as rules improving ship engine efficiency, the agreement aims to reduce the maximum sulphur content of ships’ fuel from 3.5 per cent to 0.5 per cent from 2020.
Interislander general manager Mark Thompson said the Kaiarahi ferry, which is Britain-flagged, had to comply with the rules wherever it went.
‘‘Our NZ-flagged ships also need to comply when operating outside New Zealand waters such as when they go into dry dock.’’
If New Zealand signed the agreement, the Interislander ferries would use a fuel with a less than 0.5 per cent sulphur content, such as ordinary diesel, he said.
Marten said New Zealand had no regulation on air quality from ships. At its worst, the type of fuel used was ‘‘Marmite-type’’, thick and black, he said.