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Ice algae deplete ozone
Marine Pollution Bulletin
The recent habitat destruction is linked to the move to reclaim and industrialize the area before the Chinese take-over in 1997. However, it is the construction of the new airport on Chek Lap Kok island which is causing the most damage. The island has been flattened and the material removed used to infill parts of the harbour. There are also many new causeways, outfalls and links under construction. The combination of mechanical damage caused by explosives and dredging--over 25% of the world's dredging fleet is at work in the area--and the input of industrial pollutants and heavy shipping traffic have considerably reduced the habitat which the dolphin can utilize. The sewage entering the harbour is also slower to disperse since the extensive alterations. Construction work is also taking place in one of the main dolphin nursery areas. Subsequent food shortages have unfortunately caused clashes with local fishermen as the dolphins raid the nets for fish. The humpback dolphins, some of which are pure white, are similar in size to bottle-nosed dolphins but are more slender and range in colour from the pure white to pink and also grey. WWF-Hong Kong and the Marine Conservation Society-Hong Kong have supported a Chinese White Dolphin Project in the area to coordinate the information on the dolphins. PHILIPPA A M B R O S E
a need for adequate waste disposal facilities in Caribbean ports to enable the safe handling of wastes which cannot be dealt with by the ships themselves. Already much money had been spent to equip ships with incineration on board as well as extensive recycling programmes whenever possible.
Ice Algae Deplete Ozone Marine algae growing on the under surface of the ice in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, are thought to be contributing to ozone depletion in the area by producing bromine compounds. Naturally occurring bromine compounds have joined the fist of substances such as CFCs and chlorinated hydrocarbons which are thought to be responsible for the continuing depletion of the ozone layer above Antarctica. Although gaseous bromine compounds had been found in the area, their source had remained unknown until American scientists, studying ice core samples in McMurdo Sound, located two bromine-producing algae living on the under surface of sea ice. These algae were found to produce a variety of different bromine compounds which are released into the atmosphere, and which are believed to be linked with the depleted levels of surface ozone in the area.
Concern over Threat to New Zealand Coast Concern is growing amongst New Zealand maritime unions over their government's plans to open the coast to foreign shipping. Some of these ships are thought to be substandard and run by ill-trained crews and the unions fear that the potential for serious environmental damage to the fragile coast would be greatly increased. The Merchant Service Guild and the Association of Marine Aviation and Power Engineers were supported by the British Ship Officers' union, Numast in their warning to the government. Particular concern was centred around the difficulty in providing the expertise and resources to inspect the foreign ships to ensure that they complied with New Zealand standards. General Secretary of Numast, Mr John Newman, also stated that, since such a policy was introduced into UK waters in 1975, the British coastal fleet had dropped from 1600 to 174 ships.
Caribbean Cruise Rubbish A call for Caribbean countries to share the burden of garbage disposal with the cruise industry has been made by John Lacapra, President of the FloridaCaribbean Cruise Association (F-CCA) at a meeting of the Caribbean Shipping Association. A controversy is building up over the issue since a number of recent cases of pollution by cruise ships has occurred (see Mar. Pollut. Bull. 24, 334, 428). Mr Lacapra expressed 416
The Price of Dumping Ash A load of incinerator ash which spent nearly two years travelling the world before being illegally dumped in the Indian Ocean has resulted in the charging of two Americans under the US Ocean Shipping Act. William Reilly and John Dowd could face fines of up to $250,000 as well as five years in prison. The ship, initially known as the Khian Sea, carried 1000 tonnes of incinerator ash for the firm Amalgamated Shipping to the Bahamas from Philadelphia in 1986. Mr Reilly and Mr Dowd were president and vicepresident of Coastal Carriers who were contracted to carry the ash by Amalgamated Shipping. The vessel was refused entry when it arrived in the Bahamas and further efforts to unload in other Caribbean and Florida ports proved fruitless. Eventually, 4,000 tonnes were unloaded in Haiti, but 7000 tonnes remained on board as the ship began a journey back to Philadelphia. The US Coast Guard stopped the ship in Delaware Bay, insisting that repairs would need to be undertaken before it could leave. These repairs were not carried o u t and the ship continued its search for a place to unload the ash at ports in West Africa and finally the then Yugoslavia in 1988. Over the next few months the ship sailed under the names of Felicia, Pelicana, and San Antonio (under the Honduran Flag). On its arrival in Singapore in late 1988, devoid of ash, the charge of illegal dumping was made. The Americans were found guilty by a US District Court.
The recent habitat destruction is linked to the move to reclaim and industrialize the area before the Chinese take-over in 1997. However, it is the construction of the new airport on Chek Lap Kok island which is causing the most damage. The island has been flattened and the material removed used to infill parts of the harbour. There are also many new causeways, outfalls and links under construction. The combination of mechanical damage caused by explosives and dredging--over 25% of the world's dredging fleet is at work in the area--and the input of industrial pollutants and heavy shipping traffic have considerably reduced the habitat which the dolphin can utilize. The sewage entering the harbour is also slower to disperse since the extensive alterations. Construction work is also taking place in one of the main dolphin nursery areas. Subsequent food shortages have unfortunately caused clashes with local fishermen as the dolphins raid the nets for fish. The humpback dolphins, some of which are pure white, are similar in size to bottle-nosed dolphins but are more slender and range in colour from the pure white to pink and also grey. WWF-Hong Kong and the Marine Conservation Society-Hong Kong have supported a Chinese White Dolphin Project in the area to coordinate the information on the dolphins. PHILIPPA A M B R O S E
a need for adequate waste disposal facilities in Caribbean ports to enable the safe handling of wastes which cannot be dealt with by the ships themselves. Already much money had been spent to equip ships with incineration on board as well as extensive recycling programmes whenever possible.
Ice Algae Deplete Ozone Marine algae growing on the under surface of the ice in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, are thought to be contributing to ozone depletion in the area by producing bromine compounds. Naturally occurring bromine compounds have joined the fist of substances such as CFCs and chlorinated hydrocarbons which are thought to be responsible for the continuing depletion of the ozone layer above Antarctica. Although gaseous bromine compounds had been found in the area, their source had remained unknown until American scientists, studying ice core samples in McMurdo Sound, located two bromine-producing algae living on the under surface of sea ice. These algae were found to produce a variety of different bromine compounds which are released into the atmosphere, and which are believed to be linked with the depleted levels of surface ozone in the area.
Concern over Threat to New Zealand Coast Concern is growing amongst New Zealand maritime unions over their government's plans to open the coast to foreign shipping. Some of these ships are thought to be substandard and run by ill-trained crews and the unions fear that the potential for serious environmental damage to the fragile coast would be greatly increased. The Merchant Service Guild and the Association of Marine Aviation and Power Engineers were supported by the British Ship Officers' union, Numast in their warning to the government. Particular concern was centred around the difficulty in providing the expertise and resources to inspect the foreign ships to ensure that they complied with New Zealand standards. General Secretary of Numast, Mr John Newman, also stated that, since such a policy was introduced into UK waters in 1975, the British coastal fleet had dropped from 1600 to 174 ships.
Caribbean Cruise Rubbish A call for Caribbean countries to share the burden of garbage disposal with the cruise industry has been made by John Lacapra, President of the FloridaCaribbean Cruise Association (F-CCA) at a meeting of the Caribbean Shipping Association. A controversy is building up over the issue since a number of recent cases of pollution by cruise ships has occurred (see Mar. Pollut. Bull. 24, 334, 428). Mr Lacapra expressed 416
The Price of Dumping Ash A load of incinerator ash which spent nearly two years travelling the world before being illegally dumped in the Indian Ocean has resulted in the charging of two Americans under the US Ocean Shipping Act. William Reilly and John Dowd could face fines of up to $250,000 as well as five years in prison. The ship, initially known as the Khian Sea, carried 1000 tonnes of incinerator ash for the firm Amalgamated Shipping to the Bahamas from Philadelphia in 1986. Mr Reilly and Mr Dowd were president and vicepresident of Coastal Carriers who were contracted to carry the ash by Amalgamated Shipping. The vessel was refused entry when it arrived in the Bahamas and further efforts to unload in other Caribbean and Florida ports proved fruitless. Eventually, 4,000 tonnes were unloaded in Haiti, but 7000 tonnes remained on board as the ship began a journey back to Philadelphia. The US Coast Guard stopped the ship in Delaware Bay, insisting that repairs would need to be undertaken before it could leave. These repairs were not carried o u t and the ship continued its search for a place to unload the ash at ports in West Africa and finally the then Yugoslavia in 1988. Over the next few months the ship sailed under the names of Felicia, Pelicana, and San Antonio (under the Honduran Flag). On its arrival in Singapore in late 1988, devoid of ash, the charge of illegal dumping was made. The Americans were found guilty by a US District Court.