Let's talk diesel sensibly.

[gavroche]

The government and other official bodies want us to believe that diesel cars are bad for our health. Well, do they ever mention buses, lorries and most of all the big container ships that travel the world 24 hours a day? Their paranoïa is deep on cars but let's have a look at facts regarding the 15 biggest ships in the world . Those 15 ships pollute as much as 760 million cars! They use 10 000 tons of low quality fuel for a return journey from Asia to Europe. Their fuel produces 2000 times more sulphur than all the cars in America and Europe. And this is just scratching the surface about those giants.
So, after reading this, I don't feel any guilt about driving my diesel car 10 000 miles a year and doing 65 mpg.
Of course, those ships are part of the global economy and provide us with all those lovely goods we buy in the shops so it makes it alright to heavily pollute our skies.
Once again, the politicians and do-gooders are just a bunch of hypocrites.

 

[screenman]

Every little helps. Go for a run in say North Wales then do the same in London, blow your nose and view the difference in the colour of the stuff that comes out, horrible I know.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Every little helps. Go for a run in say North Wales then do the same in London, blow your nose and view the difference in the colour of the stuff that comes out, horrible I know.

Wot 'e said.

We don't walk or cycle across the oceans and one bus takes sixty people off the road, thirty of who would be driving diesel car.

 

[Spinney]

I think the problem with cars (and lorries and buses) is the fact that the diesel engines shove out Nox and particulates in cities, where lots of people can breathe them in, whereas the pollution from the ships is widely dispersed before folks can breathe it.
Was wandering around Falmouth today, and came across an info board near the oil terminal there pointing out that ships going up the Channel had to use low sulphur fuel to reduce pollution.

Edit: User9609 and Smokin Joe posted while I was tying this!

 

[Wobblers]

I think you'll find there are remarkably few people breathing the fumes from large ships on the high seas. Unlike in towns and cities, where diesel engines are the major contributor to nitrogen oxide and particulate pollution - and produce this right at street level where every inhabitant just happens to live, work or travel through.It also needs to be pointed out that NOx and particulates are the major agents responsible for some tens of thousands of premature deaths in this country alone.

Edit: both SJ and User9609 got here first!

 

[John the Monkey]

So, after reading this, I don't feel any guilt about driving my diesel car 10 000 miles a year and doing 65 mpg.

Well, that's what matters, and I'm sure we'll all sleep easier tonight, what.

 

[S-Express]

Every little helps. Go for a run in say North Wales then do the same in London, blow your nose and view the difference in the colour of the stuff that comes out, horrible I know.

I think we can agree that pollution levels are likely to be higher in London than they are in Capel Curig. Ironically, pollution levels in London were probably worse in the early/mid 20th century than they are now - although some of the pollutants may be different.

Meanwhile, here's a gratuitous vid of the greatest diesel engine ever built -


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucNE3-dg0Bc

 

[gavroche]

I don't need an excuse. Today, they are picking on diesel, tomorrow petrol and what next? It is hypocritical to me that the big boys can pollute to their heart's content without anything being said or mentioned. As usual, money is king.

 

[Dayvo]

You should get yourself a bike, Gav?

 

[TVC]

I don't need an excuse. Today, they are picking on diesel, tomorrow petrol and what next? It is hypocritical to me that the big boys can pollute to their heart's content without anything being said or mentioned. As usual, money is king.

You said lets talk sensibly.

 

[Piemaster]

Low sulphur fuels have been in use for several years in 'special areas' (eg. North Sea, Mediterranean) and depending on the age of the ship there are strict emissions control, quite possibly more advanced than in your diesel car - such as urea addition and catalysts. Fact is though the engines are a lot bigger so do burn a lot more, but then shipping is a generally an efficient way to move goods. Think of how many trucks or aeroplanes it would take to move your iPad from China to the UK. Though you'd need to build the roads first.
Of course banning those big ships would solve pollution in one sweep, no oil imports would stop road pollution too.

 

[John the Monkey]

You said lets talk sensibly.

 

[screenman]

I don't need an excuse. Today, they are picking on diesel, tomorrow petrol and what next? It is hypocritical to me that the big boys can pollute to their heart's content without anything being said or mentioned. As usual, money is king.

The big boys, my old dad used to use those words.

 

[Pale Rider]

Ironically, pollution levels in London were probably worse in the early/mid 20th century than they are now - although some of the pollutants may be different.

An uncle of mine used to commute in London in the 1960s on a motorbike.

He used an open face helmet and told me his face was black after some journeys - except for two comedy white circles where his goggles were.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Meanwhile, here's a gratuitous vid of the greatest diesel engine ever built -


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucNE3-dg0Bc

Indeed