three questions to…Vincent Van Quickenborne

Why did the Belgian government decide to focus on the ecological impact of shipping?

Within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Belgium has always taken a progressive position with regard to mitigating the environmental impact of shipping, with a focus primarily on emissions of air pollution and greenhouse gases. Our North Sea itself is part of an Emission Control Area where nitrogen and sulphur emissions are strictly controlled and, this year, black carbon as well. Our ambition is to reduce CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030. By 2050, we aim for zero emissions.

Regarding underwater radiated noise from shipping, the initiative emerged as a measure under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), which aims to achieve good environmental status for the marine environment. Efforts are currently being made by Belgium to raise further awareness on this issue in international fora and to get it on the agenda in IMO. Only when tackled on the international level can significant progress be made.

The Belgian Ministry of Environment commissioned two studies showing that simple solutions, such as speed reduction, could have great results on greenhouse gases emissions as well as underwater noise, what steps does the Belgian government plan to take to tackle these issues?

Organising a webinar to disseminate these results was a first important step [which took place on 30 March 2021]. The issue of underwater is not as obvious as others but it is a very important one. According to the World Health Organization, noise pollution is the second biggest threat to human health after air pollution. So having an informative webinar with over 200 participants with various backgrounds in governance, research and industry, and to bring it on an international agenda, was of foremost importance.

With the two studies, solutions have been investigated that lead to both a reduction in underwater noise and a reduction in emissions. Investing in a combined approach to environmental problems is the way forward and has the best chance of success. Indeed, the studies show that there is potential to achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution and underwater radiated noise at the same time.

As far as individual measures for each ship are concerned, it is important to point out that these must be assessed and analysed on a case-by-case basis and should be looked at during the vessel’s design stage, in order to be cost and acoustically effective. Both the analysis and the necessary action of each individual ship are an initiative that is up to the ship owners themselves. Within the Sustainable Shipping Plan, further initiatives can be taken here with the Belgian Ship owners’ Association. The sector is showing ambition in this respect in terms of reducing emissions.  

With regard to collective measures, such as slow steaming, there will be, in our opinion, need for further research in other regions of the world to demonstrate the benefits of these measures. We might also be in need of real pilot cases of slow steaming, such as the one in Canada, to demonstrate the feasibility of such measures. 

However, measures to reduce underwater noise from shipping are only meaningful if taken at the international level. A joint proposal by Canada, Australia and the USA (MEPC 75/14) was launched in IMO and will hopefully be discussed in the next months. Belgium will use the results of our two studies to advance the discussion and encourage the other Member States to support this proposal as well.

What role can Belgium play at the European Union level to address the threats to our ocean?

Concerning underwater noise, Belgium participates in some European projects: JOMOPANS - Joint Programme for Monitoring Environmental Noise in the North Sea, as well as Saturn - Solutions at underwater radiated noise. The results will provide managers, planners and other stakeholders with the necessary tools to include the effects of environmental noise in their assessment of the environmental status of the North Sea and to evaluate measures to improve the environment. We are following these projects very closely and have the ambition to build further on them. 

Underwater noise is obviously not the only threat to the ocean. Climate change, the decline of biodiversity, the fragmentation and degradation of habitats, marine litter, etc. are certainly equally serious threats that require our attention and action. At the European level and at the sub-regional level (OSPAR), Belgium is actively involved within the framework of the marine strategy, Natura 2000 and marine spatial planning. We try to continue this line at a global level through our Blue Leaders initiative.