4.5.3 Activity in the NSR and Environmental Factors
In this section we look at the impact factors that ships navigating the NSR bring to the Arctic environment.
(1) Continual impact
Most ships in service in the NSR have been built after the MARPOL 73/78 Convention came into force, and therefore meet its requirements. The few ships constructed before the MARPOL 73/78 are remodeled to satisfy this treaty and Russian environmental regulations. Continual pollution factors can therefore be said to consist of engine exhaust, oily water, sewage and garbage.
Air pollution caused by the exhaust from NSR vessels consists of emissions into the atmosphere of SOx, NOx and hydrocarbons from the consumption of fossil fuels. At this point, although no specific regulations on these pollutants exist, estimates of total ship emissions can be made. Ships that navigate the NSR are generally equipped with low- or medium-speed diesel engines, which are estimated to release a total of 1-1.5t of SOx and 2-2.5t of NOx per day.
The oily water is caused by bilge from the engine rooms of ships, fuel and lube separation residues, washing, coupling leaks, etc. Water pollution from daily activities such as cooking and showering is considered a minor threat to the NSR environment and is not objected to national regulations, but toilet and medical sewage must be processed and purified.
All ships navigating the NSR are equipped with sewage treatment units, oil filtering/separating systems, strainers, garbage-collectors and incinerators. The ship waste volume depends on the number of crew aboard as well as the type, size and age of the ship. Most garbage is incinerated on board, but incombustible wastes and sewage processing residues are delivered to reception facilities in ports.
Russian standards require that engine noise level is not to exceed 105dB. However, the in situ noise level during operations in ice-covered waters will depend on numerous factors and would be difficult to estimate on a regular basis.
