Management of new types of waste in Baltic ports - project concept initiative by BPO

Policy and Regulation Context
According to the EU’s environmental and transport policies as well as the Baltic Sea EU Strategy (COM (2009) 248), the most negative effect of shipping is air emission. Another relevant regulation comes from an IMO (MARPOL Convention 73/78 Annex IV) and EU (Directive 33/2012/EU), which directly describes the sulphur limits and nitrogen oxide for sea-going vessels. These regulations are currently being implemented but the lowest limits will be enforced starting January 1, 2015, on the Baltic Sea, North Sea and English Channel. Sulphur Directive will be a driving point for introducing a scrubbers technology in the quite many vessels operating within the Baltic Sea in order to match the SECA requirements.
Close loop scrubbers will produce the wastes (sludge) that shipping lines as well as ports should take care of. At the transition period (time of installations of scrubbers at ships) there is an uncertainty how to deal with the waste from scrubbers in ports.

According to up-to-date knowledge the open loop scrubbers will produce sodium sulphate that will be concentrated by centrifuge separator to a sludge, which must be landed as special waste (in “closed loop” systems). Therefore, there will be a need for special port reception facilities for waste sludge or acceptance to dump with waste oily sludge (according to DNV GL).

Moreover, there is a new legislation coming (under Helcom) regarding the discharge of sewage to sea, which will be prohibited. All passenger ships (cruises, ferries) sailing in the Baltic Sea will be obliged to treat the waste water onboard or discharge the waste in the ports. According to these regulations port should have “adequate port reception facilities”. Exact dates of implementation of this regulation are still discussed in Helcom.

Thus, ship-owners operating in Baltic waters and sea ports would have to implement new internal strategies in order to meet emission criteria and port facility requirements imposed by the European Union and other international organisations (e.g. Helcom, IMO).
Presented project concept addresses two types of new wastes that will appear in ports: waste from scrubbers and sewage from passenger ships..

Driving Points and Motivation
Considering the above new regulations coming, Baltic Ports Organization is planning to initiate a project aiming at the development of waste management and facilities at the Baltic ports. Taking into account the new ships technology coming (scrubbers) and new Helcom recommendations ports should be prepared to receive new types of wastes and develop new facilities in ports.

Harmonised approach and the need of experience exchange between the Baltic ports as well as utilisation of best practices are the main driving point and the most effective and efficient approach towards the development of the waste facilities in the ports. Some of the Baltic ports has a lot of experience and have invested already in port facilities for sewage collection from passenger ships. However, for some of the Baltic ports the forecoming Helcom regulation and construction of the port facilities is still unsolved problem.

BPO is foreseeing this project as an opportunity for the Baltic ports to work together to meet future requirements and get financing for new ports investments.

Objectives and scope of the project
Main project objective aims to lower the impact of shipping and ports on the environment.

Objectives:
I stage
- Planning the port reception facilities for sewage from passenger ships;
- Planning the reception of waste from scrubbers in ports;
- Exchange of know-how and experience between ports.
II stage
- Construction of waste reception facilities in ports.

Activities (proposed, for further discussion and elaboration)

The “New Waste Management in Baltic Ports” initiative in itself should consist of several main activities and they, in turn, include some specific sub-activities.

I stage: studies, pre-investment works
Activity I: Project management and co-ordination
This activity will secure the professional and timely management of the Action as well as the spreading and sharing of knowledge gained in the project. Baltic Ports Organization (BPO) in partnership with the project’s leading partner could be responsible for the project’s coordination.

Activity II: Project Dissemination and experience sharing platform
Within the framework of this Activity, Project Dissemination process will be secured among the pre-investment studies and analysis prepared in the different ports and the process of transferring knowledge and experience will be launched via common sharing platform. The Baltic Ports Organization will secure knowledge sharing and cohesion between the Project Partners to make sure that the Actions are based on common outcomes, best practices and recommendations.

Activity III: Analysing of regulations and policy implications for port management and investment plans;

Activity IV: Reception of waste water from passenger ships;
- Planning and pre-investment studies in ports

Activity V: Management of reception of waste from scrubbers;
- Planning of waste reception from scrubbers
- Updating the port management plans

II stage: Construction of port facilities
Potential project partners:
- Baltic ports who express the will to participate in the project
- Governments and maritime administrations
- Ship-owners
- Research institutes, universities
- BPO and other trade organizations

Benefits of the result of the Action can be drawn, not only for the ports partners themselves, but for other seaports in the Baltic Sea. In addition, ports in Europe and relevant stakeholders engaged in the Waste Management in the Ports development will be addressed.

Financing

According to CEF Call 2014 opened in September 2014 development of waste reception facilities is one of the priorities mentioned in the - Specific priorities / Motorways of the Seas (MoS):
“- Actions supporting the development of reception facilities for oil and other waste, including residues from scrubbers.”

TEN-T programme http://inea.ec.europa.eu/en/ten-t/ten-t.htm
For studies:
- up to 85 percent for partners from Cohesion countries, up to 50 percent for other countries
For investments:
- up to 85 percent for partners from Cohesion countries, up to 20-30 % for other countries

For further info, please contact:
Mr. Emil Arolski, bpo.ea@actiaforum.pl