Article
citation information:
Beqaj, B., Gjipalaj, J., Çobani,
E., Markola, A. Prevention of the marine environment pollution in the coastal
area of Albania. Scientific Journal of Silesian University of
Technology. Series Transport. 2024, 124,
37-46. ISSN: 0209-3324. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20858/sjsutst.2024.124.3.
Blerina
BEQAJ[1], Joana GJIPALAJ[2], Entela ÇOBANI[3], Adjola MARKOLA[4]
PREVENTION
OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION IN THE COASTAL AREA OF ALBANIA
Summary. Water space on the
globe occupies a total area of about 360 million km2, which
constitutes 70% of the Earth's surface, becoming the most important mode of
transportation in the field of import and export trade. Our daily lives are
closely linked to the sea, where water surfaces have become an important part
of people's lives around the world. However, the current situation of the
marine environment is not optimistic, marine pollution has become a significant
topic in today's society. All marine pollution incidents such as oil spills or
leaks, chemical incidents, plastic pollution, air pollution from ships, etc.,
have caused significant and difficult recovery of the marine environment.
Today, a special attention is being given to the prevention and control of the
appearance of these marine pollutions, as well as the management of polluted
waters. The MARPOL Convention is the main international convention covering the
prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or
accidental causes. The aim of this study is to give an overview of the existing
marine pollution in the coastal part of Albania and develop solutions to
existing problems. The Republic of Albania has acceded to this convention, has
drafted national legislation as well as management plans for the prevention of
marine pollution.
Keywords: marine pollution, prevention of marine
pollution, MARPOL Convention, environmental safety, safety of marine
ecosystems, harbour
1. INTRODUCTION
Sea transport, in general, is a relatively
small contributor to marine pollution from human activities. The deteriorating
state of the world's marine environment is directly and continuously and
intensively linked to anthropogenic impacts [1-3]. Some of the most visible
impacts on the marine environment include overexploitation of marine resources,
dumping of harmful substances (including rubbish, plastics, and materials from
marine pollution accidents), pollution due to carbon release, massive noise for
the underwater world, such as even physical disturbances on the coast [4-8].
Lately, it seems like humanity is racing against time to start managing the
marine environment in a more sustainable way. It is likely that continued
unsustainable use of water resources and space will cause an irreversibly
degraded pattern.
Thus, the fate of the marine environment
depends on the ability and will of the human being to abandon the destructive
path of development and find solutions that would allow the combination of increased
use of marine environmental services for humanity with management based on
science, protection and restoration of the marine environment [9].
Marine pollution is a problem that has been
going on for generations [10]. The marine environment is used for the transport
of goods and/or passengers, for the performance of water sports activities, for
scientific and archaeological research, maritime tourism, but it has often been
and continues to be a depository for plastic, industrial and chemical waste and
sewage [11]. Unfortunately, for years, the marine environment has not been
treated as the valuable resource it is, but rather as the largest storage site
in the world. Maritime transport exerts pressure on the marine environment. Oil
pollution, underwater noise, the transport of non-indigenous species, and
pollution from chemicals used on ships’ hulls (antifouling) are all issues that
can negatively impact animals and organisms living underwater.
The water space is the largest area and the
most important part on earth. Water spaces receive various substances that flow
into the ocean from land, but the ocean itself does not undergo significant
changes.
However, in recent decades, with the
development of world industry, sources of pollution from land, ships, marine
incidents, pollution of the marine environment is becoming more and more
serious, facing a great challenge, which is gradually affecting the marine
environment [12-14]. In the face of increasing marine pollution, the protection
of the marine environment should now be considered as one of the most essential
topics of human development [15].
The International Convention for the Prevention
of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) is the main international convention covering
the prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational
or accidental causes. The MARPOL Convention was adopted on 2 November 1973 at
the IMO [16-23]. In 1997, a Protocol was adopted to amend the Convention and a
new Annex VI was added, which entered into force on 19 May 2005. MARPOL has
been updated with amendments over the years [24].
Albania is a member of the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, and thus has the obligation to protect
and preserve the marine environment against pollution. Pollution itself means
the introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into
the marine environment, which damage sea and coastal resources, reduce the
quality of seawater, endanger human health, and hinder marine activities and
fishing.
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
A combination of qualitative and quantitative
methods was used in this paper. Multiple sources of information from the
International Maritime Organization, from the General Maritime Directorate have
been used.
The study of theoretical concepts was also used
in relation to the predictions made by the MARPOL Convention for the prevention
of marine pollution from ships.
Albania has a member of the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea since 1982 and has acceded to the MARPOL
Convention with all 6 of its annexes, from which comes the obligation to
protect and preserve the marine environment against pollution.
One of the most important decisions in Albania
for the practical implementation of the Marpol Convention is DoCM no. 1104,
dated 28.12.2015. For the adoption of requirements for the prevention of the
discharge of waste, created by ships and surpluses from cargoes, into the sea.
It provides for the determination, establishment and approval of requirements
for the prevention of the discharge of waste, created by ships and surpluses
from their cargoes, at sea, with the aim of protecting the marine environment
from ships, during the use of the ports of the Republic of Albania. This
decision applies to:
a) all ships, including
fishing ships and watercraft for entertainment, regardless of their flag, the
call sign or activity within an Albanian port;
b) all ports of Albania
that are affected by the above ships.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The Ministry of
MIE, based on the MARPOL Convention, has licensed the following operators and
all solid and liquid waste collection companies, approved and declared in
GISIS. The Global Integrated Transport Information System (GISIS) constitutes a
database not only for all companies collecting solid and liquid waste generated
by ships. Company data can only be updated by states.
The companies
licensed for Durres harbour are: “Marine Cleaning”; “Rada Oil” and “Coli sh.p.k”. The
companies licensed for Vlora harbour are: “Delfini-1”, “Marine Cleaning”. The companies licensed for Saranda harbour are: “Finikas” and “Cogren”. “Marine
Cleaning” is licensed by MIE with code VII licence. 5.2 and VII.5.3, which
allow this entity to carry out the withdrawal of solid and liquid waste in all
harbours of the country.
The special feature
of this company is that in its headquarters, as a function of this activity, in
addition to the criteria that must be met for licensing, it has equipment and
technology for the destruction of liquid waste. Other companies are licensed
under code VII.5.2 or VII.5.3 and to collect liquid waste they contract with
licensed companies for their processing, while solid waste goes to the landfill
of the respective municipalities.
Waste cleaning and
treatment processes include:
−
The collection of hydrocarbon residues on the
surface of the harbour aquarium.
−
Receiving waste water from the ships' deposits
through special boats.
−
Collection of all solid waste.
−
Washing all sleeping and dining bedding.
−
Cleaning the premises of ferries and ships.
−
Water supply for ferries and ships.
−
Waste treatment process.
−
Treatment of waste water and hydrocarbons.
Fig. 1. Tools and equipment of “Marine
Cleaning” Company
Fig. 2. View of the plants for
primary and secondary treatment of bilge water
The plant and its
processes are described in detail below.
The primary treatment of bilge water involves a
mechanical procedure for large wastes, such as stones or granules, that may be
present in these waters. Secondary treatment of bilge water involves separating
it from oil and transporting it to plant storage.
Treatment of
hydrocarbons:
Step
1: After the separation of the oil from the water, following decanting, it is
transported to a warehouse where it is heated to a temperature of up to 40
degrees.
Step
2: It passes through two reactors, raising the temperature to 145 degrees
Celsius. At this temperature, water no longer exists at this point.
Step
3: At this temperature, the filter powder is added and subsequently passed
through two filters.
Step
4: Air pressure can result in the extraction of up to 80% of pure oil.
Fig. 3. Depuration plant for
cleaning waste
Special sewers for
the treatment of bilge water and hydrocarbons have also been built. Deposits
are available, which are divided into: 5 deposits of 100 tons and 2 deposits of
300 tons. These deposits are of a high security level, in the event of an
accident, the entire amount is collected through the sewers in an underground
storage.
Fig. 4. Bilge water and hydrocarbon
deposits
Aquarium
maintenance: In 2009, began the cleaning of the aquarium in Durres harbour.
Cleaning includes:
−
Cleaning the aquarium from solid waste.
−
Cleaning the aquarium from oily residues.
−
Transfer and recycling in accordance with
legislation.
Managing emergency situations with a marine incident with an oil spill in
the aquarium. It is a special ship for port cleaning, which manages to clean
the entire aquarium within eight hours. Subsequently, the ship retrieves the
rubbish and deposits it on its deck. Ultimately, the waste is collected using a
compactor and dumped in the waste area of the city.
Tab. 1
Cases of marine pollution in Albania from 2016-2020
|
Year |
Place of occurrence |
|
2016 |
Pollution
occurred in the aquarium of PIA on 22.05.2016 |
|
Pollution occurred in the aquarium of
Saranda Harbour on 01.08.2016 |
|
|
Pollution
occurred in the aquarium of Durres Harbour on 22.10.2016. The
incident occurred during the operation of unloading oily waste at the
container terminal |
|
|
2017 |
Assessment
of the situation of the vessel in port and the compatibility of the
manufacturer decommissioning with the "MARPOL" and SOLAS
conventions [25] |
|
2020 |
Verification of authenticity for possible GNV
contamination. The pollution was claimed to be caused by
sewage, but it was about turbidity of the water surface as a result of the
work of the ship's propellers |
|
2021 |
Pollution caused by the TITAN watercraft |
The
statistics in the Ports of the Republic of Albania regarding the discharge of
Bilge/Sludge/Slope generate these data.
Tab. 2
Discharges in Albanian seaports (2021-2022)
|
Durres harbour, 2021 |
Durres harbour, 2022 |
|||||||
|
Ships |
Bilge |
Sludge |
Slope |
Other |
Bilge |
Sludge |
Slope |
Other |
|
Passenger |
1088.66 |
774.69 |
0 |
38.96 |
1254 |
689 |
6.4 |
34 |
|
Tanker / Cargo |
614 |
2022.22 |
128.596 |
2.15 |
705 |
2090 |
56 |
3.8 |
|
Vlora harbour,
2021 |
Vlora harbour,
2022 |
|||||||
|
Ships |
Bilge |
Sludge |
Slope |
Other |
Bilge |
Sludge |
Slope |
Other |
|
Passenger |
202.5 |
141 |
7.2 |
5.6 |
101 |
81 |
0 |
0.5 |
|
Tanker / Cargo |
100 |
149 |
9 |
7.3 |
123 |
145 |
0 |
3.1 |
|
Saranda harbour, 2021 |
Saranda harbour, 2022 |
|||||||
|
Ships |
Bilge |
Sludge |
Slope |
Other |
Bilge |
Sludge |
Slope |
Other |
|
Passenger |
0 |
0 |
0.02 |
19 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
20 |
|
Tanker / Cargo |
3 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
73 |
0 |
1.2 |
Fig. 5. Discharges from Durres harbour
Fig. 6. Discharges from Vlora harbour
Fig. 7. Discharges from Saranda harbour
4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The
protection of the marine environment is a challenge faced not only by our
country but by the entire globe. Of course, different countries have started to
take measures for the protection of the marine environment as well as the
implementation of a series of plans on the preservation of the marine
environment. Some of the conclusions and recommendations drawn from this paper
are given below.
Sensitizing
policies should be created to minimize hydrocarbon pollution. It is essential
to invest increasingly in the professional training of crew and captains,
especially in those cases when the ships in which they work transport dangerous
cargo.
Maritime
transport operators should be sensitized regarding the responsibilities they
have in case of pollution of the maritime space.
Continuous,
accurate measurements of oil concentrations in water must be made through
reliable devices in real time.
Long-term
partnerships between industry, government, and local communities should be
created to monitor environmental problems in the operation of crude oil
terminals.
National
coordination and implementation of environmental protection priorities,
programs, and strategies with each regional unit. It is necessary that port structures
have all the capacities to manage dangerous situations in the event of an oil
spill at sea.
It is
essential to adopt new technologies that minimize negative environmental
impacts.
Perhaps
the most effective approach to mitigate marine pollution is through the
provision of environmental education.
People
are often unaware of the sources and harmful effects of marine pollution.
All
data and information should be shared with the public.
There
is a need to categorize waste, since even though on the ship each waste is
separated, in Albania the collection of waste is done in a common place
(landfill of the respective municipality)
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Received 11.05.2024; accepted in revised
form 09.07.2024
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Journal of Silesian University of Technology. Series Transport is licensed
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