In connection with the shipping of fertilizers used in agriculture, a large amount of eutrophic nutrients ends up in the Baltic Sea. In the sea, fertilizers accelerate the growth of algae.
Sea transport in connection with the Baltic Sea, large quantities of fertilizers used in agriculture get into the Baltic Sea. The nutrients they contain, nitrogen and phosphorus, accelerate the growth of algae and strengthen the eutrophication of the sea.
Fertilizer handling in ports and sea transport are significant sources of emissions that burden the Baltic Sea. Fertilizer ports can be very big burdens in Finland as well, says a fresher statement.
“In the ports of the Baltic Sea, such large quantities of fertilizers are handled that even a relatively small amount of waste during loading causes significant eutrophication in the Baltic Sea,” says the project manager Eve Star Bear from the John Nurminen Foundation (JNS).
Correspondingly, with quite simple and inexpensive means, such as good cleaning practices, large emission reductions can be achieved, according to Tähtikarhu.
Foundation found out in the Fertilizer Shipping project how much nutrients get into the sea in Kotka, Finland's largest fertilizer port, where more than two million tons of nitrogen fertilizers in particular are loaded every year.
The results are stark. The nitrogen load caused by Hamina–Kotka harbor in the Gulf of Finland is hundreds of tons per year. It corresponds to the annual nitrogen load caused by the waste water of a medium-sized city.
The port's load on Suomenlahti is even greater than the total industrial load of Kymenlaakso, estimates the report.
Major According to Tähtikarhu, the load surprised both the foundation and the port and environmental authorities. Fertilizers are not toxic, and insufficient attention has been paid to their handling in ports.
In Finland, large nutrient loaders, such as industrial plants and wastewater treatment plants, are required to monitor their load accurately.
On the other hand, no load limits have been set for the fertilizer ports. The environmental authorities do not require ports to monitor the total load either.
Baltic Sea more than 44 million tons of fertilizers used in agriculture pass through the ports every year.
Fertilizers are handled in abundance not only in Finnish ports but also in Russian, Baltic, Polish and German ports.
Finland's most significant fertilizer ports are in Kokkola, Kotka and Uudesskaupunki.
Fertilizers are mainly transported in bulk. Finely divided fertilizer is prone to be spread by the wind into the environment or washed away from the dock area with rainwater.
Ships can also wash the cargo hold at sea, whereupon the cargo residues end up with the washing water directly in the sea for the use of algae.
The nutrients in fertilizers strengthen the eutrophication of the Baltic Sea, as they contain large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus in a soluble form that is favorable for algae. They are also an effective fertilizer for algae.
In ports however, emissions can be prevented by quite simple means, for example by paying attention to reducing wastage and cleaning practices.
“The priorities are good practices and raising awareness that fertilizers should not be released into the sea,” says Tähtikarhu.
According to Tähtikarhu, the foundation has been looking for ways to reduce emissions together with port operators.
Ports have tried to reduce emissions by, among other things, training staff, improving the cleaning of the port area and investing in loading equipment.
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