PM10* emission rates are dependent upon fuel sulphur levels, with base PM10 emission rates of 0.23g/kW h for distillate fuel (0.24% sulphur) and 1.35g/kW h for residual fuel (2.46% sulphur)[7]. Using the specific emission rate for residual fuel, an approximate annual residual fuel consumption for global shipping of 250 million tonnes and an average specific fuel consumption of 200g/kW h, it is estimated that some 1.7million tonnes of particulate are currently emitted per annum.

With a typical removal rate of around 80%, there is the potential to prevent emissions of approximately 1.35 million tonnes of particulate matter entering the atmosphere per annum as well as remove 98% of sulphur dioxide.

* PM10 is defined as particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter nominally less than 10µm.