Marine Log - August 2008 - (Page 36) TUGS&BARGES transported via barge more economically than by truck. Demand for barge service has increased by 20%, growing from 1,000 to 1,200 since 1991. “Maritime support services represent a significant share of the region’s economic activity, generating more than $2 billion each year for the region and supporting approximately 12,000 jobs, of which 7,000 are waterborne,” said NYCEDC Executive Vice President Madelyn Wils. “Finding innovative ways to support this important industry sector, which takes 3.1 million trucks off New York City roads annually, is consistent with the Bloomberg Administration’s PlaNYC.” The NYCEDC numbers are based on one standard barge equating to 60 trucks, which was the traditional rough equivalent prior to the release of the Texas Transportation Institute study, which updates the equivalent to 70 tractor-trailer trucks. The increasing use of the region’s waterways to transport freight also reduces wear and tear on roadway infrastructure and serves to alleviate regional transportation congestion. “The savings the maritime industry provides in both fuel and reduced commercial truck traffic congestion is priceless to our economy and environment,” said New York City Council member Michael E. McMahon. NOAA STUDY EXAMINES PM FROM TUGS The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Colorado recently reported the results of a study of particulate matter from commercial ships and vessels. These included harbor and escort tugs. The findings of the study, “Light absorbing carbon emissions from commercial shipping,” were reported in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. The lead author of the study was Daniel Lack from the NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory and the NOAA-CU Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences. Lack and his colleagues spent the summer of 2006 aboard the NOAA research vessel Ronald H. Brown observing emission plumes from some 96 commercial vessels in the Houston Ship Channel and the Gulf of Mexico. The findings of the study suggest that tugs were the highest emitters (per unit of fuel burned) of light absorbing carbon aerosol. The measurements for the study were conducted using photoacoustic spectrometer equipment. The results in Geophysical Research Letters states that “On average, MSD (medium-speed diesel) vessels emit more LAC (light absorbing carbon) aerosol per unit fuel consumed than other vessels by almost a factor of two.” ML www.marinelog.com AUGUST 2008 MARINE LOG 36 http://www.tnghph.com.mx http://www.tnghph.com.mx http://www.marinelog.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.