STATE AND DYNAMICS OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FROM SHIPPING IN THE BLACK SEA REGION: TRENDS, CHALLENGES, AND TECHNOLOGICAL RESPONSES

Abstract

The Black Sea region is one of the key transportation arteries between Europe, the Caucasus and Asia, with more than 140 million tons of various cargoes passing through it annually. Therefore, the intensification of shipping combined with the lack of strict environmental regulations, such as emission control zones (ECAs), is creating growing pressure on the marine environment. The article provides an overview of quantitative indicators of the impact of maritime transport on the Black Sea ecosystems with a focus on CO2, NOx, SOx emissions, noise pollution, biodiversity loss, and local environmental hazards. It also highlights current research in the field of ecology, logistics, energy efficiency, and the latest technologies that form the basis for the development of a long-term regional policy, taking into account the goals of the European Green Deal and the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution. The most vulnerable areas, including the Danube Delta, the Odesa coast, and the Bosphorus Strait, are identified. A comparison with the environmental standards of the Baltic Sea is made, which allows to identify regulatory gaps. A number of technological solutions are proposed, including cold ironing, LNG, scrubbers, and digital MRV systems. Particular attention is paid to policy initiatives: the creation of a pilot SECA zone, unification of port electrification policies, introduction of mandatory emissions monitoring, and creation of the Black Sea Green Shipping Fund. Recommendations for the implementation of a comprehensive strategy for environmental safety of navigation in the Black Sea based on the principles of sustainable development and interstate cooperation are presented. An analytical comparison of the environmental situation in the Black Sea with other sea basins where successful emission control and fleet modernization practices have already been implemented is made. Based on this comparison, the author substantiates the feasibility of adapting such instruments in the Black Sea context, taking into account the geopolitical complexity of the region.