Burn Cleaner, Breathe Easier: A Call to Hold the Shipping Industry Accountable

By Dr. Robert Hodson, Executive Director, Protect Virginia
 

Background 

For many, Virginia is defined by the safe harbors and bounty of the Chesapeake Bay. From the world-class oysters of the Eastern Shore to the bustling ports of Norfolk, our maritime heritage is the heartbeat of the Commonwealth. But a growing environmental issue—hidden in plain sight—is threatening our health and our vital seafood industry.

The "Scrubber" Problem

To meet international air quality guidelines, many cargo and cruise ships have installed "scrubbers." Scrubbers are like giant industrial showers, which draw in water and spray it into the dirty exhaust stacks, and then wash it back into the ocean, bay, or river. So instead of using cleaner fuel, ships "scrub" their engine exhaust with seawater to remove sulfur.

But Here’s the Catch

The wastewater is highly acidic, and laden with heavy metals and other toxic compounds that can cause developmental abnormalities, reproductive failure, cancer and mortality in marine life. Additionally, near busy ports, this can cause the water to become acidic at a rate that’s  50 times faster than acidification caused by climate change alone. This directly impacts shellfish including oysters, clams, and blue crabs. 

 A Growing Health Crisis

This isn't just a "bay/ocean" problem; it’s a public health crisis for Virginia families.

• Threats to the unborn: The most alarming risks are for our future generations. Fine particles, smaller than dust motes, found in ship exhaust are known to cross the placenta. In one study, exposure to fine particulates in the third trimester of pregnancy were associated with 42% increased stillbirth risk.
• Links to cognitive decline: On the east coast of the U.S., ship emissions have been shown to cause dangerous spikes in air pollution. Microscopic particles in ship exhaust are small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier, and new research links them to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of cognitive decline in older residents.
• A toxic food chain:  Many persistent contaminants  are absorbed by tiny organisms at the base of the food chain and work their way up —eventually reaching the fish and crabs we eat.
   

A Billion Dollar Economic Threat

Virginia’s seafood industry is an economic powerhouse which  contributes over a billion dollars and 11,000 jobs annually to the Commonwealth. Oysters and clams are highly sensitive to the discharged acidic wastewater because it negatively impacts shell growth. If we don't protect the water and the reputation of Virginia Seafood, we risk the livelihoods of the thousands of people who depend on this vital industry.

The Solution: Burn Cleaner Fuels

Ships burning cleaner fuels do not need to scrub the exhaust, thus eliminating scrubber wastewater completely. The technology to fix this already exists - ships already switch fuels in the waters of California Connecticut and 45 countries globally. By switching to cleaner distillate fuels, ships can reduce air pollution without poisoning our water. 

We are simply asking for fairness and accountability - for the shipping industry to bear the cost of the pollution they cause. As a coastal state, Virginia has everything to lose. It’s time to move toward a future where "clean shipping" protects our waters, our citizens, our billion-dollar seafood economy, and our heritage. Sign our petition for cleaner shipping.

Protect Virginia is a grassroots team of citizens concerned about the health of Virginia’s vital waterways, including the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed and coastal ports.  Protect Virginia believes in managed growth combined with prudent regulation to ensure ecosystem integrity, public health, quality of life, and sustainable environmental practices.