With goods constantly being shipped, global trade across seas has certainly increased over time, having detrimental effects on marine systems. Therefore, it’s important to be aware of how we can reduce this environmental impact to help better our planet. Read on for a few suggestions of how we can start tackling this issue.
The impacts on the marine system
Shipping can chemically pollute our air and oceans through waste dumping and fuel spills, and even destroy marine systems through collisions. Many different species are affected by these collisions, including seals, turtles, and fish. Quieter ships may be more difficult for marine wildlife to detect, increasing the chance of a devastating collision. However, louder ships, whilst causing noise pollution, potentially distress marine animals, causing a behaviour change.
The impacts to the human being
The effect that shipping has had on the environment has caused many concerns for humans. It’s been said that the shipping industry, along with marine scientists and environmental groups need to be able to work together to help improve the impact on the environment. Humans can act by putting models in place to assess risks in shipping to tackle them. Only when humans understand their impact can they act on it.
Exploring future fuels
Exploring future fuels could be an option to take when trying to reduce the negative effects shipping has on marine systems. Heavy fuel oil can be harmful to the environment, and there needs to be a shift from the use of fossil fuels to renewable fuels to reduce the carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere. This would also reduce the non-renewable resources being used up. With carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide emissions as well as other hazardous air pollutants becoming more of a problem, ship owners must turn to alternative fuels. These types of fuels are commonly made from ammonia and hydrogen – both of which don’t produce harmful carbon emissions. Of course, managing this future of fuels is a challenging task since knowing the costs, scale, and availability of these fuels is very unclear.
Installing eco-friendly devices
Eco-friendly devices such as Merus rings can always contribute to sustainability and a better environment for all. Merus can be used for treating seawater with little required effort. With no harmful chemicals being added to the process, this reduces pollutants as well as costs. Operating in seawater in an eco-friendly way, Merus continues to grow in the marine sector, with Merus rings being a popular choice to target marine growth and corrosion in vessels. In the process, the salt in the water stays solved in it, but its corrosion rate is heavily reduced. Merus is certainly an environmentally friendly alternative to harsher cleaning products. For example, the seashells, barnacles, and muscles collect on the inside of the water pipe that not only can damage piping systems but also the wildlife. Also, different small larvae can grow to full size then to block water in the filters or pipes. making issue to the marine system. Not even mention the water system maintenance cost. It’s always great to have a look at the eco-friendly devices to save the water system and the sea.
Conclusion
Therefore, with shipping having such a detrimental impact on marine life, it’s significant to know how this can be reduced to become an eco-friendlier planet. Many changes can take place, including using alternative eco-friendly devices and swapping out fossil fuels for less harmful fuels. Even acting on just one or two changes can significantly improve our planet’s ecosystem. If reconsidering to use of new technology to both avoid the water issue and save the marine system does not cost you more than the traditional ways, it is always worthy to try more eco- friendly ways to function everything.