Port Environmental Pollution and

Environment Management System.

Table of contents.

• Causes of Port Environmental Pollution.

• Port related Pollution types, sources and environmental

effects.

• International Conventions.

• Maritime Environment Risk Management System.

(MERMS)
Causes of Port Environmental Pollution.

1.Pollution from port maintenance:

a.)Maintenance dredging.
b.)Maintenance of superstructure and equipment.

2.Pollution from developing infrastructure.

a.) Deepening access channels.
b.) New constructions.

3. Pollution from maintenance and repairs to ships and port

industrialization.
4. Pollution from cargo handling and storage.

5. Pollution due to sea based activities.

a.) Tanker Accidents.
b.) Discharge from ships.
c.) Discharge of ballast water.
d.) Ban on tributyltin.

6.) Pollution from shore based transport operations.

-The port/city interface.
 Thus the Environmental impact of ports may be divided
into three subcategories.

1. Problems caused by the port itself.

2. Problems caused at sea by ships calling at the port.

3. Emissions from intermodal transport networks serving the

port hinterland.
PORT RELATED POLLUTIONS, TYPES AND
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS.
1.) Oil and Hydrocarbons:
Sources : Industrial effluent, Dry docking and repairing operations,
accidental spillage of fuel oil, bilge water, ballast water, Terminal and
refinery input
Effects : Badly affects marine wildlife, Tainting of fish Shellfish
tissue vulnerability, tar ball formation.

2.) Oxygen Demanding wastes:

Sources : Sewage outfalls within port and from ships, Agricultural
and industrial riverine input, Fishing related waste, Gull colonies.
Effects : Organic decay giving rise to smelly and toxic hydrogen
sulphide, ammonia and methane, Migratory salmonids will not travel
through low oxygen water, seagull dropping reduce oxygen and
introduce virus and bacteria.
3.) Litter and Garbage:
Sources : Discharges from marine transport and port, construction work
and riverine inputs.
Effects : Unsightly and health risks as it encourages rats and gulls,
Danger to marine wildlife and harbor activities.

4.) Heavy Metals:

Sources : Riverine inputs, Effluents, Anti fouling paints, Chemical
spillages, Dredging disturbances.
Effects : Metals can be toxic and this cause abnormalities in bio
accumulators like algae and shellfish.

5.) Solid Inorganic:

Sources : Riverine inputs, Construction work, Dredging, ship propeller
disturbances.
Effects : Water clarity is affected, Badly affects marine flora and fauna.
 
6.) Persistent Pollutants:
Sources : PCB like persistent organic compounds in effluents.
Effects : Maybe toxic, carcinogenic or harmless based on the
compound, Affects the marine flora and fauna.

7.) Nutrients: (Nitrates and phosphates)

Sources : Riverine inputs from agricultural runoff, Effluents.
Effects : Algal blooms and Europhication.

8.) Atmospheric Pollutants:

Sources : Exhaust emission, Reefer units, Construction works,
Volatile organic carbon compounds.
Effects : Poor air quality, Greenhouse effect, Oxides of sulphur
and nitrogen cause acidification.
9.) Noise:
Sources : Virtually all activities especially repair, and
construction works.
Effects : Health threat and nuisance.

10.) Odors:
Sources : Cargo/material storage, leakage, disposals.
Effects : Local nuisance with toxic consequences.
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
 Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships
(MARPOL 73/78)
• At international level , a key environmental convention which
impacts on the port and port terminal is MARPOL(73/78).

• It has been established to prevent pollution caused by oil, noxious

liquid substances in bulk, harmful substances carried in packaged
forms, sewage, garbage and exhaust emissions from ships.

• Ports will help ensure that garbage reception facilities are

provided to meet the needs of ships.

• Port state control inspectors have the authority to test that ships
crews are able to carry out procedures relating to marine pollution
prevention, inspect on board records relating to pollutants and
examine on board equipment used to reduce waste and pollution.
London Dumping Convention.
• The convention on the prevention of marine pollution by dumping
of wastes and other matter, known as the London dumping
convention, came into force in 1975.

• Its aim is to protect the marine environment from human activity,

to ensure that there is control of all sources of marine pollution
and to prevent pollution of the sea by the dumping of waste.

• The disposal of dredged material or spoil will need proper

consideration by port management.

• The convention has been adopted by the dredging industry and

enables the correct assessment to be made regarding the suitability
for dumping dredged material at sea.
Ballast Water Management Convention (BWM)
• Ballast water is required to maintain the stability and structural
integrity of a ship.

• It has been estimated that 10,000 marine species are transported

in ballast water around the globe.

• The BWM convention came into force in 2016 to prevent ,

minimise and eliminate the transfer of harmful species .

• While the convention is focused on ships ,it will require ports,

where ship repairs are undertaken, to provide infrastructure to
dispose of ballast tank residues.
 Safety of Life At Sea Convention (SOLAS)
• Under SOLAS, the international management code for the safe
operation of ships and for pollution prevention (ISM code) .

• It has been established to ensure safety at sea, prevention of

human injury or loss of life, and avoidance of damage to the
environment, in particular to the marine environment and to
property.

• The code recognises that ships should liaise with port authorities
to prevent pollution through the use of ship-shore checklists,
harbour watches and patrols and if an incident occurs such as
accidental spillage, agreed procedures are used to minimise the
impact.
MARITIME ENVIRONMENT RISK
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
MERMS
• Malta Maritime Authority to be known as a Maritime
Environmental Risk Management system (MERMS)
encompasses all possible risks to environment and people
from shipping, wharfage, dockside, terminals, anchorages,
coastal waters, cargo handling and bunkering activities, etc.

• It would consist of a preventative system against harm to

people and the environment, contingency plans in the event of
the potentially foreseeable or unforeseen events and
emergency plans in the event of an accident or unforeseen
circumstances.
MERMS should comprise of:
• Identification of sources of environmental risk .

• Establishment of objectives and targets for MERMS.

• Compliance with law and regulations.

• Compliance with relevant IMO conventions and codes of practice.

• Compliance with certain authorities – ISGOTT, OCIMF,

SIGTTO, IAPH, INTERTANKO.

• Organizations of and responsibilities for the implementation and

maintenance of the MERMS.
Organization and Responsibilities for
Environmental Risk Management.
• Appointment of MERMS manager.

• Appointment of environmental/safety officers.

• Establishing standard operating procedures.

• Setting up emergency response procedures.

• System maintenance and review.

• Establishing marine environmental forum.

• Train managerial staff.

THANK YOU