Oceanography and Marine Biology

Biography

Biography: Chinedum Onyemechi

Abstract

The issue of climate change affecting the ozone layer demands critical efforts from different sub sectors of the world carbon source emission sources cutting across the Agricultural sub sector, the oil and gas sub sector, the fossil fuel technology sub sector to mention but a few. Under the fossil fuel technology sub sector, the marine industry by having fossil fuel powered ships in the waters contributes a good measure to green house gas emissions. In view of this fact the sector has instituted good number of measures to address the mitigation of ship source emissions through regulations developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).The work first reviewed the various air emissions control mechanisms developed for the sector. Next, the work developed a model of compliance to these rules for both flag states and port states using port state control mechanisms. Both oxides of nitrogen NOx and oxides of sulphur SOx compliance were covered in the light of IMO, Marine pollution convention MARPOL73/78 as currently amended. The theories of efficiency and responsiveness were applied in eliminating laxity in the overall ocean emissions sub sector. Recently, in the year 2020 the requirement for Sox and NOx was increased thus placing higher demand on the overall maritime sector. New solutions to date include the use scrubbers to divert air pollution to the waters, the use of alternative fuels such as LNG. The expected effect is certainly a reduction in air pollution with attending supply chain multiplier effects on marine logistics and offshore infrastructures. The effect of  these changes are more global than anticipated especially when placed in contradistinction to recent developments in ozone layer depletion in the year 2020. This year saw the creation of a space in the ozone layer as large as the size of Greenland in the Northern Hemisphere. The same year also came a global lockdown which reduced the emission level from transport based source of emissions .Coincidentally,  the large space /opening in the ozone layer in the Northern hemisphere got sealed up. The level of correlation between reduced emissions arising from the lock down and the closing of the ozone layer is yet to be determined. Further extension of the 2020 Marine Sulphur cap regulation is required in the hinterland part of the Logistics supply chain to maintain ozone layer equilibrium in the earths’ atmosphere. States, nations and world monitoring bodies such as the United Nations in consultation with consultants should form an inclusive ecosystem geared at reducing global NOx and SOx emission.