Danish EPA to use airborne sniffer technology to monitor passing ship emissions

20 July 2017 – *Update*

The Danish Environmental protection agency (EPA) will commence the monitoring of SO₂ and NO_x emissions in an effort to enforce Marpol Annex VI in Danish waters after July 2017.

The sniffer technology which is validated by the Danish government reference lab for emissions can be fitted to a drone or helicopter. Initially the devices will be helicopter borne. Drones may be used in the future for this purpose.

Ships are located using their AIS data and the sniffer technology analyses the exhaust gases above the funnel and transmits the data to a centralised platform.

This may lead to sampling of ship’s fuel tanks when the vessel arrives in port. If the vessel is outgoing from Danish territorial waters, the DMA notifies the relevant authorities in the port and/or country of destination.

https://forcetechnology.com/en/maritime-industry/cases/drones-catch-environmental-polluters-at-open-sea	http://explicit.dk/news.html

15 June 2017

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is coming down hard on ships using fuel oil with sulphur content greater than the permissible 0.10%.

Denmark regularly monitors the sulphur content of fuel by taking samples from ships during routine Port State Control (PSC) inspections.  

However, it is reported that sulphur emissions can also ‘sniffed’ by sensors installed beneath the Great Belt Bridge.  Once the sensor is activated, the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) is alerted and attends the vessel upon its arrival in port.  If the vessel is outgoing from Danish territorial waters, the DMA notifies the relevant authorities in the port and/or country of destination.

The Danish Authorities intend to increase their surveillance efforts during the second half of 2017.