Saturday, November 8, 2008

http://www.khnl.com/Global/story.asp?S=7334574

"Big Island Beach Attracts Plastic Trash"
Nov 9, 2007
Featured Video
Pollution Spoiling South Hawaii Beach
By Howard Dashefsky

KAMILO BEACH, Big Island (KHNL) -- "A beach that was once a place where Native Hawaiians used to come to find logs for their voyaging canoes, is now a place where tons of trash wind up every year.

A once scenic beach on the Big Island is now a disturbing reminder of pollution spoiling the world's oceans.

It's one of the most picturesque place on Earth. And sadly, it's one of the most polluted. It's Kamilo Beach on the southern tip of the Big Island.

Because it's constantly exposed to the trade winds blowing directly on shore, it winds up being a gathering place for marine debris from all over the Pacific.

Specifically, it's become an accumulation zone for plastic trash.

"Here what were seeing is what all plastic trash turns into as t floats for hundreds of years in the ocean. Plastic fragments" said environmentalist Charles Moore.

What was once a beautiful white sand beach is what Moore and others now call ‘Plastic Beach'. And it is not only on the surface.

"This plastic goes down a foot deep. At one time these were toothbrushes, pens, cigarette lighters, plastic bottles, plastic caps, but now they're plastic fragments and pre-production plastic pellets, together forming a new kind of sand: plastic sand here on the beaches of Hawaii".

In all, tons and tons of debris, and none of it generated here.

Friday, October 17, 2008
For all graphs and clickable links see:
http://alohaanalytics.blogspot.com/2008/10/oil-price-changing-short-term...

Editor's Note -- An ABC Video has since come out on Oct. 20, 2008 on these matters: http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?cl=10291122

"Oil Price Changing Short-term Outlook for Hawaii"

Don't blink while watching these financial markets, you might have missed the significance of what has happened to oil prices.

Of course here in Hawaii we see it at the gas pump, first time in more than a decade that gas prices don't seem to be "sticky" at high prices when the price per barrel of oil came down.

Oil was at it's all time high price per barrel this past July 11, 2008, at $147/barrel, when gas prices in much of Hawaii were about $5/gallon. The state was in real trouble at that point. Now with presumed deflationary events in the wider economy and credit markets, most consumable commodities have come down 30 to 50% in the past 3 months. Oil is at $71/barrel as of today, Oct. 17, 2008, and gasoline in Hawaii is below $4.00/gallon even on the outer islands.

Also of interest and importance, jet fuel is down 48% from its high in July 2008, now equal to the price that it was at in early Sept. 2007, when things started to go south. Marine diesel fuel (MDO) is down 30% from its high in July 2008. Other noteable commodities, such as steel and aluminium, are also off their highs.

First, some links on the recent local history:
http://kokuakauai.ning.com/group/bunkerfuelpollutionatnawiliwili
http://savekauai.org/statement-niamalu-resident
http://savekauai.org/niamalu-air-emissions-ship-stacks:-presentation-hol...

Second, a report on one of the leading scientific studies done on this a number of years ago:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/08/990820022710.htm
"Ship Sulfur Emissions Found To Strongly Impact Worldwide Ocean And Coastal Pollution"
"ScienceDaily (Aug. 20, 1999) — PITTSBURGH -- Ship emissions are a dominant contributor to atmospheric sulfur dioxide concentrations over much of the world's oceans and in several coastal regions, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Duke University report in a Nature article today..."

Lastly, a few days ago, new international standards on this began to be established, whereby, "Countries wanting to accelerate this can establish local or regional emission control areas on their coasts."

Two good articles on this:
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081009/ship_pollution.html?.v=1
"International body slashes ship air pollution by clamping down on dirty fuel"
By Dina Cappiello, Associated Press Writer October 9, 2008

"WASHINGTON (AP) -- Ships traversing the world's oceans will have to clean up the air under new international regulations adopted Thursday.

The International Maritime Organization set a global cap for the amount of sulfur in marine fuels to reduce the air pollution plaguing ports and coastal communities in the U.S. and worldwide.

KEEP KAUA`I CLEAN!
Ask NCL to Burn Cleaner Fuel

• In one night NCL’s “Pride of America” emits 6450 pounds of sulfur dioxide, 8550 pounds of nitrogen oxide and 1240 pounds of soot. That is over 7 tons of pollution, more than all the cars on Kaua`i combined!

• Several studies have related deaths, increased cancer risks, heart disease, and other health effects to exposure to cruise ship smoke. Around 300 residents live within a half-mile of the harbor and Kaua`i High School is located a quarter-mile from the harbor.

• NCL is the only cruise ship line that opposed a bill requiring cruise ships to burn a cleaner grade of fuel while in Nawiliwili Harbor.

• It would cost an additional 50 cents per passenger to burn cleaner fuel that would reduce emissions by 70% while in port.

Come to Niumalu between 7-7 this Thursday, May 22, to show your support for the burning of cleaner fuel by cruise ships. See the message below from Niumalu resident Carl Berg

Update - NCL Dirty Boat “Informational Picket”

Aloha

The “Informational Picket” is still scheduled for Thursday, May 22 from 7 AM to 7 PM, at the Pier 2 gate (the Thursday before Memorial Day, marking the beginning of summer)….

NCL Pride of America is scheduled to arrive at Pier 2 that morning (the boat will be leaving at 12 noon the next day, Friday)…

We are expecting about 10 picketers in the morning and about 100 picketers in the late afternoon (5 to 7 PM) as most people work.

Niumalu Valley NCL Cruise Ship Pollution Fact Sheet

1. Niumalu Valley is directly down wind of Nawiliwili Harbor during tradewind conditions (approximately 90% of the time) and receives all of the cruise ship smoke stack pollution while the ships dock in the harbor. Approximately 300 valley residents are located within a half-mile from the harbor. Residents have been complaining for several years of sickness from the cruise ship smoke, “Direct Plume Exposure”. Kauai High School is located within a quarter-mile from the harbor and both students and faculty have complained of sickness from “Direct Plume Exposure”.

2. Several studies1,2 have related deaths, increased cancer risks, heart disease, and other health effects to exposure to cruise ship smoke.

Corbett et al., “Mortality from Ship Emissions: A Global Assessment,” Environmental Sci. Technol, American Chemical Society, 42(24), p. 8512-8518, Dec. 15, 2007.
2 Draft Diesel Particulate Matter Exposure Assessment Study for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California Air Resources Board, October 3, 2005.

3. Estimate of Cruise Ship Emissions
The emissions for the “NCL Pride of America” over night stay in Nawiliwili Harbor are estimated at:

Sulfur dioxide SO2 6,450 pounds

Nitrous oxide NOX 8,550 pounds

Particulate matter PM 1,240 pounds

Miami - Jan 29, 2007 ---
Furthering NCL's continued commitment to the environment, NCL Corporation has signed a multi-year agreement with the Port of Los Angeles that includes several measures designed to support the port’s clean air initiatives.
As of Jan. 1, NCL's Norwegian Star, which is homeported in Los Angeles, has been using only low-sulfur fuel (with less than 0.05 percent sulfur) while at the Port of Los Angeles. Norwegian Star is also participating in the port's Vessel Speed Reduction Program which limits air emissions by slowing ships to 12 knots or less when within 40 nautical miles of the port.
In addition, NCL will utilize Alternative Maritime Power (AMP) on its vessels when it becomes available to cruise ships at the port in 2008. AMP, more widely known as shore power or "cold ironing", allows vessels to turn off their diesel-burning engines while docked and plug into cleaner, shore side electrical power, reducing air emissions while in port.
"We applaud the Port of Los Angeles for their forward-thinking environmental initiatives," said Colin Veitch, president and CEO of NCL Corporation. "We are pleased to be in the forefront of port users in implementing the port's eco-friendly measures."

http://www.sustainableshipping.com/news/2008/04/71280?gsid=1a85ddf3098f3...
Ports present fuel incentive scheme
09 Apr 2008, 21:24 GMT

Cleaner air is the goal of fuel incentive scheme.
Cleaner air is the goal of fuel incentive scheme.
The presentation was led by the environmental team leaders from the two port authorities, Heather Tomley, Senior Environmental Specialist from Long Beach port, and Christopher Patton, Environmental Affairs Officer with Los Angeles port.

"It's a good partnership that brought us to this point," Tomley said.

The purpose of the workshop was to introduce the voluntary plan and outline its broad intention ahead of more specifics being decided.

"We're still in the development stages, working through the finer details over the next few weeks," she said.

Another workshop will be held in a month's time, according to Tomley, ahead of a predicted started date of July 1.

The fuel incentive scheme was approved by the two ports last month and Tomley explained today how the scheme fitted in with goals for cleaner fuels set out in the joint San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan.

The ports' scheme is intended to get early compliance with cleaner fuels for ships visiting the port and was put together with the input of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) and several container lines.

For those joining the scheme, the port authorities will pay the cost difference between fuel oil bunkers and 0.2% marine gasoil (MGO) used in ship main engines.

Aloha
>>
>> Please come out and support Niumalu Valley’s “Informative
Picket” of NCL
>> Pride of America
>> Thursday, May 22 from 7 AM to 7 PM, at the Nawiliwili pier 2 gate.
The
>> boat is scheduled to arrive at pier 2 that morning and will be
leaving
>> at 12 noon the next day. A Pre-Picket meeting is schedule for 6 AM
>> (sharp) at Niumalu Beach Park (located behind the harbor, just past
the
>> one-lane bridge).
>>
>> Please, we need your help (your kokua) to stop the violations of EPA
>> National Air Quality Standards occurring in Niumalu Valley and Kauai
>> High School due to NCL’s cruise ship plume (see attached fact
sheet).
>>
>> Show-up when you can, morning or afternoon… We need volunteers for
>> support, signage, honkers, flyers, drinks and pupu’s….
Volunteers,
>> please send me an email at donkauaichocolate.us">donkauaichocolate.us
>>
>> The ultimate goal is to pressure NCL to burn cleaner fuel while in
>> Nawiliwili Harbor which would reduce pollution by 70 percent.
>>
>> The goal for Thursday is “Bad Public Exposure for NCL”…
>>
>> 1. We will be handing out informative Flyers…
>>
>> 2. We will try and get newspaper and TV coverage…
>>
>> Ideally, we would like to see “Stop NCL Dirty Boat” on national
TV, but
>> we will settle for The Garden Island, Advertiser and StarBulletin
and
>> perhaps a little local TV.
>>
>> NCL is the only cruise line that does not support burning cleaner
fuel
>> to reduce pollution while in Nawiliwili Harbor….
>>

http://kauaiworld.com/articles/2008/04/12/news/news03.txt
Holland America scrubber panned

by Rachel Gehrlein - THE GARDEN ISLAND

Niumalu residents concerned with air pollution from cruise ships docked in Nawiliwili Harbor met with a Holland America representative Thursday night to learn about an environmental in-depth feasibility study being conducted by the cruise line.

The subject of the study, a seawater scrubber, is being developed and tested by the Holland American cruise ship “Zaandam.”
*

A seawater scrubber is a marine exhaust gas scrubbing system that removes sulfur oxide gas and particulates in order to reduce ship emissions.

Tina Stotz, an environmental professional with Holland America, explained that the cruise line chose to conduct the $1.5 million study because of “proven technology.”

“We know it (the scrubber) substantially minimizes harmful emissions,” Stotz said. “The goal of the project is to minimize sulfur dioxide and particulate matter.”

The device filters exhaust as it passes through a multi-sectioned scrubber, which mixes gaseous engine emissions with seawater (wash water). The wash water is then treated to raise the acidity level and separate solids from liquids before being discharged. The solids are collected as sludge and stored on the ship until the material can be properly discharged ashore. After the acidity level is raised in the wash water, the water is released back into the sea.

Stotz shared data from three tests done in Alaska and Canada.

Cruise ship company to discuss air scrubber

by The Garden Island

Holland America Line and Princess Cruises in Hawai‘i is having a presentation at the Niumalu Pavilion tonight at 5 p.m.

The program will discuss Holland America’s seawater scrubber project.
*

Holland America has installed and is testing the first seawater scrubber on a cruise ship, which is designed to reduce air emissions from ship stacks. The company is working with the state Department of Health to conduct tests of the scrubber in Hawai‘i, including Nawiliwili.

Tina Stotz from Holland America will conduct the community meeting tonight to describe the project, present some early test results from outside of Hawai’i and answer any questions about the project.

The presentation will last an hour and Stotz will be available afterward to answer any questions.