SHOCK revelations that CO2 emissions from shipping are double those of aviation have come just months before Poole announces its latest plans to expand the port.

New studies by oil giant BP claims CO2 emissions from shipping are much higher than previously thought, and could rise by up to 75 per cent in the next 20 years.

The news comes as Poole Harbour Commissioners last week revealed it will soon announce plans to deepen berths in the harbour to accommodate larger ships.

Last year the commissioners completed a multi-million pound project to deepen the main shipping channel in a bid to attract a new generation of ferries and larger ships.

But Brittany Ferries, which runs one of the biggest shipping operations in the port, say they are confident they can make an "ecologically sound case" for shipping.

General manager Steve Warner said: "We're aware of it as an issue, but we believe we're more ecologically sound than airlines. We carry a lot of cars and one of the points we're keen to make is that we take people closer to where they want to be, so they don't need to use their cars as much for long journeys."

Aviation CO2 emissions are estimated to be a round two per cent of the global total.

But researchers at the Institute for Physics and Atmosphere in Germany claim emissions from shipping range between 600m and 800m tonnes, or up to five per cent of the total.

Leader of Borough of Poole Councillor Brian Leverett, said: "Poole has a healthy shipping industry and it is an important part of the economy.

"We don't want people to be unduly frightened because of CO2 emissions. This is a world-wide issue and not something that becomes a problem in the immediate vicinity."

Chairman of the Poole and Bournemouth branch of Greenpeace Richard Hillyard explained that the group is very aware of the problem and it is a real concern for environmentalists.