Ships pour out large quantities of pollutants into the air, principally in the form of sulphur and nitrogen oxides as well as Particulate Matter (PM)
While recently introduced sulphur standards at global and EU levels have halted this increasing trend for SO2-emissions (at least in the Sulphur Emission Control Areas – SECAs in northern Europe and North America), NOx -emissions are expected to continue increasing. As a result, within ten years the NOx -emissions from international shipping around Europe is expected to equal and surpass the total NOx -emission deriving from all land-based sources in the 28 EU member states combined.