Posted: May 1st, 2023
Emission Reduction Methods in Maritime Industry
Emission Reduction Methods in Maritime Industry
The maritime industry is one of the most important sectors of the global economy, transporting about 80% of the world’s trade by volume and 70% by value. However, it is also a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, contributing to about 2.9% of the global CO2 emissions in 2018. If no action is taken, these emissions could increase by up to 130% by 2050, undermining the objectives of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.
Therefore, there is an urgent need to reduce emissions from the maritime industry and to phase them out as soon as possible, while promoting a just and equitable transition. In July 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) made a step on this path by committing to new targets for GHG emissions reductions and to develop and adopt in 2025 a basket of measures delivering on these reduction targets. The EU also took action by including maritime emissions in its Emissions Trading System (ETS) from January 2024, covering all large ships entering EU ports regardless of their flag.
In this blog post, we will explore some of the most promising emission reduction methods that can help the maritime industry achieve its climate goals and become more sustainable. These methods include:
– Slow-steaming: This refers to reducing the speed of ships, which can significantly lower fuel consumption and emissions. According to a study by CE Delft, slow-steaming can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 30% for container ships and up to 50% for bulk carriers. However, slow-steaming also has some drawbacks, such as increasing transit times, requiring more ships and affecting cargo quality.
– Renewable energy: This refers to using alternative fuels and/or energy sources that have lower or zero GHG emissions compared to conventional fossil fuels. Some examples are biofuels, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, wind, solar and batteries. These technologies can either replace or complement fossil fuels, depending on their availability, cost and compatibility with existing infrastructure and regulations.
– Ship redesign: This refers to improving the design and efficiency of ships, such as optimizing hull shape, propeller design, engine performance and waste heat recovery. These measures can reduce drag, improve propulsion and lower fuel consumption and emissions. For instance, a study by IMO found that ship design improvements can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 10% for new ships and up to 5% for existing ships.
– Route optimization: This refers to choosing the shortest and most efficient route for a ship’s voyage, taking into account factors such as weather conditions, currents, traffic congestion and port availability. Route optimization can reduce fuel consumption and emissions by avoiding unnecessary detours, delays and idle time. For example, a study by We4Sea estimated that route optimization can save up to 4% of fuel costs and CO2 emissions for container ships.
– Sustainable shipping waste disposal: This refers to minimizing and managing the waste generated by ships, such as sewage, garbage, ballast water and air pollutants. These wastes can have negative impacts on marine ecosystems and human health if not properly treated or disposed of. Therefore, sustainable shipping waste disposal methods aim to reduce waste generation at source, implement onboard treatment systems and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
Conclusion
The maritime industry faces a major challenge to reduce its GHG emissions and align with the global climate goals. However, there are also many opportunities to adopt emission reduction methods that can improve the sustainability and competitiveness of the sector. The methods discussed above are some of the most plausible solutions that can help the maritime industry achieve its emission reduction targets and contribute to a low-carbon future.