GLIN==> World Maritime Day Focuses on Fuel Efficiency and Climate Change

University of Minnesota Sea Grant
For Immediate Release
Thursday, 8 October 2009
For Information, Contact: Sharon Moen, 218-726-6195, smoen at umn.edu

World Maritime Day Focuses on Fuel Efficiency and Climate Change

The United States, including the Great Lakes ports of Duluth, Minn., and 
Superior, Wisc., will celebrate the World Maritime Day Parallel Event on 
October 16. New York City is spearheading this year's celebration, which 
is hosted by a different country each year and is sponsored by the 
International Maritime Organization (IMO); this is the U.S.'s year to 
showcase the event. The purpose is to focus attention on the importance 
of shipping safety, maritime security, and the marine environment, with 
an emphasis on a particular aspect of IMO's work. The theme this year is 
climate change.

Duluth is taking this opportunity to get the word out about the 
advantages of maritime transportation ? particularly its lower carbon 
footprint ? and how freight transportation choices will have major 
impacts on our ability to influence global warming trends.

"The Great Lakes are vulnerable to even small changes in temperature and 
water levels, and the impacts of global warming could be problematic 
here long before effects are felt on our sea coasts," said Dale 
Bergeron, maritime extension educator for Minnesota Sea Grant. "We need 
to recognize the inherent advantages of maritime transportation in 
moving heavy cargos long distances. Shipping goods by water is the most 
fuel-efficient form of transportation per-ton-mile moved."

For example, the bulk cargo capacity of one 1,000-foot lake carrier 
equals that of approximately 700 rail cars or 3,000 large semi-trucks, 
which would stretch approximately 300 miles in a single lane caravan 
moving down the highway. Transporting more cargo by ship could 
significantly decrease our Great Lakes carbon footprint, reduce road 
congestion and accidents, and cut down on the related costs of 
land-based transportation like roadways, bridges, and rail facilities.

"Shipping is more than twice as fuel efficient as rail, and almost ten 
times as efficient as trucking," said Bergeron. "We need to understand 
all the impacts and costs related to our transportation systems if we 
are going to make wise choices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and 
mitigate climate change."

World Maritime Day is a way to support both shipping and a greener 
environment.

"The maritime community is not just an industry, it is run by people 
like you and me, who have families, and who care about the environment 
and what want to make a contribution," said Bergeron. "Understanding the 
complex issues related to our transportation choices enables us to make 
better freight transportation decisions, and helps focus our nation?s 
energy policy."

In addition to the parallel event in New York City, ports like 
Duluth-Superior are hosting events calling attention to shipping safety 
and efficiency, plus maritime transportation?s role in helping to 
address climate change. For more information on the 2009 World Maritime 
Day, go to: http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/maritime/

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