1163758 - Pollution from Marine Fuel Sales at the Port of Singapore

Burning HFO in marine engines emits fine particulate matter (PM2.5), sulfur oxides (SOx), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) that drive premature mortality and morbidity when breathed by coastal communities. Earlier work found that most early deaths occur in Asia, and Singapore, the world’s largest seller of marine bunker fuel, suffers the world’s highest per capita premature death rate from shipping emissions. Using a new research method, this paper quantifies the geographic distribution of air and water pollution from marine fuels sold in Singapore. We identify which ships bunker residual fuels in Singapore and estimate the air and water pollution released when it is burned. We quantify both the absolute and relative share of air and water pollution by sea region, country, and port. We estimated 35 million tonnes of marine residual fuels sold annually to large cargo ships in Singapore is associated with significant air pollution. While Singapore’s marine fuel sales exert a global environmental footprint, much of the pollution is concentrated in seas and coastal areas neighboring Singapore. In the seas surrounding Southeast Asia, marine residual fuel sold in Singapore accounts for more than 42% of all shipping PM2.5. Hot spots are also seen in the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean, and throughout Oceania, including along the western and southern coasts of Australia. These findings hold several implications. First, air pollution and water pollution could be mitigated by transitioning away from residual fuels to renewable fuels. This transition may result in a more distributed bunkering network, whereby other countries in the region will produce and sell marine fuels. Second, Singapore needs to increase efforts to supply renewable fuels if it wants to remain an important bunkering port. In addition to its current initiatives, Singapore should consider further efforts to transition away from fossil bunkering and review any further investments in LNG. Third, Singapore could lead regional and global efforts to advance green shipping corridors and should consider signing the 2021 Clydebank Declaration that commits countries to develop international green shipping corridors. Relevant international green shipping corridors may link Singapore to Asian countries, the Middle East, Europe, and North America.