Minimising and ultimately eliminating vessel discharges into the marine environment is becoming increasingly topical as world attention was focused upon the future of our Oceans last year. Firstly in New York in June, with the UN’s Ocean Conference, then again in November with the Sustainable Ocean Summit, held in Halifax, Canada.

Both put Marine Pollution and the plans and legislation in place to combat it, once again in the spotlight. The Summits focus was ‘Ocean Sustainable Development Goal 14’ and reminded us of the UN’s commitment to ocean conservation, as set out in their 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Launched officially on January 1^st 2016 the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to transform our world on land and at sea by 2030. Goal 14, Life Below Water, is to ‘conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources’ and aims, by 2025, to “significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds”.

Worldwide legislation which specifically targets vessel discharges into our seas and oceans has been in existence for some time, with deadlines fast approaching (EU Maritime Policy from 2007 specified the elimination of vessel discharges by 2020). As a result, ship builders are becoming increasingly persuaded by the merits of seawater lubricated propulsion systems – a pollution-free solution guaranteed to satisfy current as well as future legislations worldwide.