Graph showing the estimated increase of the GDP for China and India.

The introduction of industry practices such as crude oil washing for oil tankers, coupled with segregated ballast requirements for tankers, has contributed significantly towards reducing operational pollution. The entry into force of the international convention MARPOL 73/78 is credited with a substantial positive impact in decreasing the amount of oil that enters the sea from maritime transportation activities.

In tonnage terms, the amount of oil transported by sea increased from 1,600 million tonnes in 1992 to over 2,400 million tonnes in 2008. Over 34,000 million tonnes was carried over the 16 year period. By contrast, the number of major oil spills during the same period shows a steady reduction. Although serious accidents occasionally occur - the loss of the 'Erika' and 'Prestige' being recent high profile examples - the trend shows a continuing improvement, both in quantity and frequency of oil spills each year.

Graph showing the declining numbers and the target for the Millenium Development Goals.

Between 1992 and 2008, world seaborne trade rose from 17,541 billion tonne miles to an estimated 32,746 billion tonne miles, an increase of around 85%. The carriage of oil and petroleum products accounts for a significant part of this increase, rising by about 40% from 8,043 billion tonne miles to an estimated 11,292 billion tonne miles during the same period.

Maritime transport accounts for at least 80% of global trade and includes significant quantities of potentially destabilizing commodities such as weapons, narcotics ammunition and other hazardous materials.

The Changing Landscape of Global Poverty 2005 to 2015. 

People without Adequate Access to Food, Water and Energy from 1990 to 2030.

Sea transport is one of the least environmentally damaging modes of transport and, when compared with land based industry, is a comparatively minor contributor to marine pollution from human activities.

It is estimated that land based discharge (sewage, industrial effluent and urban/river run off etc.) and atmospheric inputs from land industry sources account for some 77% of marine pollution generated from human activities. In contrast, maritime transport is only responsible for some 12% of the total (see graphic)

Average life expectancy estimations for different regions in different scenarios