Our impact on life below sea and on land

As part of our environmental certification ISO 14001, Solvang has established an overview of our environmental footprint to sea and land, and rated our impact as “significant” or “non-significant”. All classified as “significant” have programs for controlling/monitoring and reducing our impact.

Categories in consideration

Under normal operation, discharges to the sea are small and we have chosen to consider the following categories:

Ballast water: Solvang installed ballast water treatment systems on board all vessels.

Ballast water is regarded as a high-risk emission source, as the ballast water contains marine sediments and organisms. When ships sail across the world with ballast water, species are transferred into waters where they do not belong, and they become a threat to the original marine life. This may damage the local ecosystem and could give severe consequences. All ballast water has been treated on all vessels since 2020.

Biofouling: Solvang uses high quality anti-foulings, and we monitor hull resistance to marine growth.

The introduction of invasive aquatic species to new environments by ships has been identified as a major threat to the world’s oceans and to the conservation of biodiversity. A multitude of marine species, carried either in ships’ ballast water or on ships’ hulls, may survive to establish a reproductive population in the host environment, becoming invasive, out-competing native species and multiplying into pest proportions. Solvang uses high quality anti-foulings monitor hull resistance. In case of marine growth, this is removed by hull cleaning at the first opportunity.

Anti-fouling: All vessels have TBT-free coatings.

Toxic discharges from the vessels’ anti-fouling systems harming the environment, have led to a worldwide prohibition of coatings containing TBT. All old vessels are now coated with TBT-free anti-fouling systems, along with newbuildings. Solvang works closely with suppliers, in order to find and use anti-fouling solutions which will ensure the hull’s environmental efficiency throughout the docking period.

Bilge water: All bilge water runs through separator and each run registered in the oil register.

These discharges are covered by MARPOL 73/78 Annex 1. All waste oil and sludge is burned in the incinerator or delivered to an approved processing plant onshore.

Sewage: All vessels have urinals and holding tanks.

Sewage is defined as discharges from toilets, urinals and holding tanks. MARPOL 73/78 covers these discharges, and our vessels have holding tanks that are in accordance with international regulations. Sewage dumping is only allowed when the distance from the shoreline is at least 12 nautical miles. For disinfected or finely dispersed sewage, the minimum distance is 4 nautical miles. In both circumstances the vessel shall be moving. The Company will abide by all directives in this area, but with a crew of about 25 persons, we do not consider our discharges to be a major burden to the environment.

Oil: Use of bio-oil in unlikely case of discharges from thrusters and propeller shaft casings.

Under normal circumstances there will be no operational discharges of oil, but oil discharges may occur from thrusters and propeller shaft casings. The key to minimize these discharges is good maintenance. The oil consumption on these systems is monitored precisely. All vessels are also using bio-oil for systems where oil leakage to sea is possible, i.e. tail shaft thrusters etc.

Scrubber washwater: SOx from exhaust converts to sea salt, PH, PAH, turbidity monitored and recorded 24/7.

To secure no harm to sea IMO sets limits to discharges to the sea from exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers). Discharge values are monitored 24/7 and records are kept available for inspection at any time, in addition to chemical washwater analyses.

The rules apply to vessels at berth, requiring PH> 6,5 measured 4 meters from the ship´s side. Verified compliance is part of the vessel´s certification. PAH, turbidity and PH are measured 24/7 upon scrubber operation, and logs must be available for inspection at any time.

Third party water analyses have been carried out as part of Solvang´s operation of vessels with scrubber. There are good reasons to believe that the uncertainty created in the press recently, arises from cases with poor water sampling and analytical procedures.

Garbage/waste handling: Garbage management plan stated for all vessels, segregation of waste to shore, waste to sea, waste incinerated on board.