Sulphur Dioxide Argumentative Report

The choking smell caused by releasing Sulphur Dioxide would be unpleasant to citizens. The are several ways that the government can do to reduce the emission, including Ultra-low Sulphur diesel for ocean-going and local vessels, Selective catalytic reduction for ocean-going and local vessels, Stopping the engines when berthing and Incentive scheme for ocean-going vessels using cleaner fuel. The advantages and disadvantages of each option are addressed below:

To begin with, using Ultra-low Sulphur diesel for ocean-going and local vessels can reduce emitting Sulphur Dioxide but it is not cost-effective. It would convert the particles to the products with a bigger allowable proportion of Sulphur and aromatics (Hadder, Das, Lee, Domingo, & Davis.,

The Hong Kong Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing found that With an incentive of half reduction as an incentive, the Sulphur content in newer fuel would be lowered to less than 0.5 percent (Hong Kong Incentive Program for Ocean-Going Vessels Using Cleaner Fuel While Berthing, 2012). In America, the level of Sulphur oxides could be minimized to around 74 percent in a year in Port of Los Angeles Expands Incentive Program (Port of Los Angeles Adopts Lower-Emissions Ship Incentive Program, 2012). Nonetheless, the investment is large to US$450,000 to jump-start the program and there are some regulations that may be difficult to follow, just like “Scoring 30 or more ESI points based on a vessel's engine specifications and emissions certification”, the involvement of many regulations would cut the ship operators’ interest.

The above shows the pros and cons of each options, depending on the perspective of economic, emission reduce, technological difficulties etc. Concerning the ideas, if I were the government, I would be prone to support the incentive scheme for ocean-going vessels using cleaner fuel, based on the following

The government can encourage them using fuel and technologies that are newer (for example the low sulfur bunker fuel), other than some old one like ultra-low Sulphur diesel, Sulphur content can be regulated to 0.1% or even less (Port of Los Angeles Adopts Lower-Emissions Ship Incentive Program, 2012). Secondly, in the perspective of time of outcome, this measure can promote to see an immediate benefit. Since the expenditure is not all gave by the ship operators, the discount can act as a seducer for them to upgrade their ship technologies. In a sharp contrast, other technologies require them purchasing by themselves, with a high proportion of capital needed to be paid, it is not seducible and not much vessel operators are willing to do so, the effect could not been seen in a short period of time. Thirdly, in the perspective of social education, it can raise the social awareness of the importance of protecting the environment. Given that sometimes the air quality in Hong Kong is bad and may find uncomfortable, especially to foreigners. Urging them to use newer technologies, the government could educate them the reason behind, i.e. to reduce the toxic air pollutants being given out, so that they may recognize the importance of conserve the environment, and also protect our air quality and health, eventually the international reputation could be increased.