NORDEN's emissions and objectives for reduction
The Danish Shipowners’ Association has set a general target for reducing CO2 emissions from the Danish shipping industry. The target for 2020 is a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions from the 2007 level: 15% as a result of technical improvements and another 10% as a result of speed reductions. This should be achieved through a combination of technological and operational developments aimed at reducing fuel consumption. NORDEN has taken several initiatives to support continuous CO2 reductions and to reduce SOx and NOx emissions.
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas that is emitted when e.g. burning fossil fuels. NORDEN’s CO2 emissions from vessels are calculated in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol estimating emissions from owned and chartered vessels separately.
CO2 emissions from NORDEN's owned vessels composed approximately 510,200 tonnes in 2010. CO2 emmissions from all vessels operated by NORDEN, including via Norient Product Pool, constituted around 2.2 million tonnes in 2010.
NORDEN’s objective for 2011 is a 3.5% CO2 emissions reduction from owned vessels. In 2010, the objective was also to reduce CO2 emissions from owned vessels by 3.5% but this target was exceeded with an actual reduction of 4.7%.
Sulphur oxide (SOx)
Even though sulphur oxide (SOx) easily dissolves in water, it is still harmful to people and the environment in general. 5% of all SOx emissions come from ships.
Several points in NORDEN’s climate action plan contribute to a reduction of SOx emissions. NORDEN buys bunker for all vessels operated by NORDEN and by Norient Product Pool and therefore, both companies comply with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) rules regarding accelerating limitations of sulphur content in bunker fuel. Today, the limit of sulphur content in bunker fuel is 4.5%, which will be reduced to 3.5% in 2012 and to 0.5% from 2020 (lower limits apply in certain areas).
NORDEN complies with applicable requirements which also comprises regional differences, including Emissions Control Areas 8ECA). The target for NORDEN in 2011 is to have an average sulphur content of maximum 2.0%, which corresponds to a reduction of 20% since 2007 when the work was initiated.
Nitrogen oxide (NOx)
Nitrogen oxide (NOx) causes smog and acid rain and it harms people, animals and plants. In addition, NOx creates ozone which harms the climate. Various points in NORDEN’s climate action plan contribute to reducing NOx emissions. NORDEN complies with the IMO rules regarding limits on emissions of NOx from diesel engines.