 UNEP meeting adds weight to Wilhelmsen Ships Service’s R-22 Changeover programmeJune 3, 2010 - Efforts by Wilhelmsen Ships Service to help ships move away from using ozone depleting HCFC (Hydrochlorofluorocarbon) chemicals such as R-22 have been reinforced by the recent actions of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) which has started putting in place initiatives for preventing illegal trade in the substances.
At the end of April, members of the UNEP met in Istanbul to promote inter-regional cooperation between South-Asian, Central Asian, Caucasus and Balkan countries on the control of ozone-depleting substances. The delegates were aware of illegal trade and will be increasing their efforts to prevent this activity.
Wilhelmsen Ships Service is assisting in this process through its R-22 changeover programme and its efforts to inform the maritime industry about the HCFC phase-out schedule and how it applies to the various flag-states. The world leading ships services agency offers advice and solutions to ship owners and operators on retrofitting their vessels to more environmentally acceptable solutions from its Unicool range of refrigerants.
The meeting allowed Ozone Officers from more than 30 countries to exchange their experience in phasing out the use of ozone-depleting substances such as CFCs and HCFCs widely use in refrigeration, air-conditioning and foam production.
It would appear that significant amounts of CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and HCFCs have been illegally traded between countries often mis-declared as recycled substances which are not controlled under the Montreal protocol. Russia, China and other countries are now investigating these cases in order to identify the responsible organisations.
2010-06-03
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Please see Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) company electronic office For further information, contact:
Ole Jakob Ytterdal
Head of Communications
Wilhelmsen Ships Service
Tel: +47 67 58 40 00
Mobile: +47 97 08 83 62
ole.j.ytterdal@wilhelmsen.com
Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) is part of Wilhelmsen Maritime Services, a Wilh. Wilhelmsen group company. It has the world’s largest maritime services network, with 4,500 marine professionals servicing 2,200 ports in 125 countries.
Wilhelmsen Ships Service supplies safety products and services, Unitor products, Unicool refrigerants, Unitor and Nalfleet marine chemicals, maritime logistics and ships agency to the maritime industry. Last year the company made product deliveries to 25,000 vessels and handled 70, 000 port calls.
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