HELCOM RECOMMENDATION 11/11

Adopted 14 February 1990, having regard to Article 13, Paragraph b) of the Helsinki Convention

MEASURES TO REDUCE THE EMISSIONS OF HARMFUL CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS FROM SHIPS

THE COMMISSION,

NOTING that the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, 1987, which entered into force 1 January 1989, stipulates that the production and consumption of ozone depletion substances should be kept at their 1986 consumption level not later than 1 January 1992,

NOTING ALSO that the emission of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC/HCFCs) into the air actively contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer in the atmosphere and that this depletion may cause serious effects on the global environment,

NOTING FURTHER that reduction and final elimination of CFC/HCFCs, therefore, is of global importance,

BEING AWARE that large amounts of CFC R-12 and R-11 are consumed annually on board ships in refrigeration systems and as detergents,

BEING ALSO AWARE that there are other refrigerants presently available for use in refrigeration systems on board ships such as HCFC R-22 which only has an ozone depletion factor of 5 per cent in comparison with CFC R-12,

RECOGNIZING that the main reasons for the emission of harmful CFC/HCFCs are inappropriate design of refrigeration systems, inferior maintenance procedures and insufficient knowledge of the harmful impact on the environment of CFC/HCFCs,

RECOGNIZING ALSO that these deficiencies need to be rectified,

RECOMMENDS that the Governments of the Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention cooperate within the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to promote early and effective global measures for minimizing air pollution from ships, including in particular decisions on reduction objectives and target dates, and to take actions

a)         to prohibit the use of R-12/R-11 and other harmful CFCs on new ships;

b)         to take steps to promote, instead, the use of HCFC R-22 or other less harmful refrigerants in marine refrigeration installations as they become available;

c)         to prohibit the use of CFCs as detergents on ships; and

d)         to apply the following measures in order to reduce the emission into the air of R-12, R-11 and other harmful CFCs from existing marine refrigeration installations;

(i)         to modify such installations, storage receptacles, valves and means of transferring harmful refrigerants to such installations etc. so that the emission into the air of these can be reduced;

(ii)        to require that those maintaining such installations using harmful refrigerants are capable of taking the necessary precautions to limit or eliminate emissions of such refrigerants during maintenance; and

(iii)                 to require further that those responsible for the operation and maintenance of such installations are made aware of and motivated to avoid the environmental effects of CFCs.