Denmark to Sniff Out Sulfur Polluters

In the coming months, a large drone will check emissions from ships in Danish waters to make sure they comply with the sulphur limit, said Danish Maritime Authority (DMA).

The drone is provided by the European Maritime Safety Agency, and is to be used as a means of preventing ship pollution.

The drone is fitted with a so-called "sniffer” capable of measuring sulphur emissions. Entering the ship's exhaust gas plume, the drone can register the amount of sulphur in the fuel. These data are immediately available to Danish authorities, who can follow up if a ship does not comply with the requirements.

The project will contribute to a more efficient enforcement of the sulphur rules, thereby ensuring fair competition for shipping companies and less pollution from ships.

In Denmark, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for enforcing the sulphur rules, and the Danish Maritime Authority supports this work through ship inspections in Danish ports and now also with drone monitoring.

The drone will operate in an area north of The Great Belt, where many large tankers pass when going to and from the Baltic Sea. On  April 11, the drone performed its first sulphur mission in the area.