Ben Hewitt wrote a very interesting piece in Discover Magazine online about upcoming technologies to clean up the shipping industry.  Of particular note, the article describes some of the externalities of global shipping, including greenhouse gas emissions, traditional air pollution resulting from ships burning some of the filthiest oil on the planet, and transferring nonnative species to various ports around the world.  The article is important because instead of solely focusing on the negative aspects of shipping, it provides three innovative ideas that could transform the shipping industry-skysails, ecological ballast, and hybrid tugs.  There are many other technologies that will transform this industry, such as plugging in ships to electricity while at dock (called cold-ironing or Alternative Maritime Power), slide valves, and numerous others.  However, I think Mr. Hewitt hit on three very important and innovative technologies.   

In reading this article, it highlights something that needs to change in the shipping industry-essentially shippers need to have that "can do" attitude that my second grade teacher always talked about when my classmates and I whined about class work being too hard.  To be fair, certain companies have shown immense leadership in this arena-for example, Maersk, one of the world's largest shipping companies, decided to use significantly cleaner fuels off the coast of California, which has immense benefits to residents in Southern California and Northern California breathing the fouled air partly the result of ship pollution.  As another example, Foss Maritime has been one of the leaders in pushing hybrid tug technology.  However, there has been plenty of foot dragging. 

There are many other initiatives out there by companies, but if we are going to solve the problems articulated in Wade Graham's beautifully written article about this industry and its impacts on residents in Southern California, advanced technologies need to be embraced.  As people are suffering immense health impacts from shipping and the consequences of global warming loom large, the time for action is now. 

Finally, the shipping industry has been under-regulated in the air pollution arena, and that is one of the reasons why we are in the situation where areas around ports are amongst the most polluted places in California.  Well crafted regulation will provide immense benefits to health and could result in significant reductions of greenhouse gas emission.  If our regulatory agencies, the ports, and the shipping industry step up to the plate, we can take a whack at solving the substantial problem of rampant pollution from shipping.