A Strategy to Reduce, Control, and Minimize Vessel-Source Marine Debris

Abstract

The principal focus of this paper is on commercial and publicly owned vessels, including commercial shipping, commercial fishing vessels, passenger cruise lines, mili-tary fleets, research vessels, passenger ferries, tugboats and barges, offshore oil and gas platforms, and offshore service industry vessels. There are few common elements among these categories of vessels. Some vessels are privately owned, others are public vessels. Some primarily use private ports and terminals, while others tend to use public ports and terminals. Some vessels move worldwide, while others have more regional or local movements. Some vessels carry a crew, while others carry crew and passengers. The crew on some vessels totals fewer than 5 persons, while on others the crew totals 500 persons or more. Nonetheless, every vessel generates wastes.