Research project IM/RT/22/SURV-EMIS (Research action IM)
In 2020, the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) carried out 158 flight hours over the North Sea as part of the national aerial observation program. These operations led, among other things, to the identification of 10 cases of operational marine pollution observed by ships, and of an accidental marine pollution resulting from a collision between 2 tankers. Suspicious sulphur levels were also measured in the smoke plumes of 10 ships.
In recent years, the RBINS has equipped its surveillance aircraft with innovative 'sniffer' sensors. These sensors measure sulphur, nitrogen and soot emissions from individual seagoing vessels. With the sniffer aircraft, the strict international ship emission standards on the North Sea can be monitored. If a suspicious SOx or NOx emission is measured in the smoke plume of a ship, this ship is targeted for a port inspection in the next European port of call. With this extension, Belgium continues to play a pioneering role internationally in the monitoring of ship emissions. However, additional SOx/NOx/BC sniffer flights are necessary.
Additional funding is provided within the Restart and Transition Plan to support recurrent costs linked to these air observations
