The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Wednesday said its efforts for reducing CO2 and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping were highlighted at the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) 70th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 70) this week.
Panama provided a presentation at the session, “Contributions of the Panama Canal to Reducing Emissions from International Shipping (MEPC 70/7/1),” outlining Panama Canal’s Green Route Strategy.
“Since opening in 1914, the Panama Canal’s strategic geographic location has enabled vessels to shorten the distance and duration of their voyages compared to alternate routes, thus reducing costs and emissions,” said ACP.
“In total, the waterway is estimated to have saved more than 650 million tonnes of CO2 emissions over the course of its 102 year history.”
ACP says that the newly expanded canal enables shippers to reduce environmental impact by allowing vessels to transit with greater cargo carrying capacity, thereby enabling fewer cargo movements, further driving down costs and reducing emissions by an estimated additional 160 million tonnes in its first 10 years of operation.
ACP says it has also worked to develop software that calculates a vessel’s estimated CO2 emissions for transiting a particular route, enabling ship operators to consider and select the most environmentally sustainable route.
As Ship & Bunker reported in July, ACP launched an environmental initiative, known as that Green Connection Award, which is intended to recognise carriers that make efforts to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by meeting or exceeding IMO environmental standards and/or other globally recognised standards.
“By delivering against Green Connection Recognition Program, the Panama Canal aims to not only to do our part to contribute to the reduction of emissions globally, but to also promote customers’ application of energy-efficient ship design,” said Alexis Rodriguez, Environmental Specialist at ACP.
ACP, at a side event on Wednesday, marked what it says is IMO’s “leading example and strong commitment to reducing emissions and preserving the environment” by presenting the organisation with a Green Connection Award.
“The Panama Canal would like to thank the IMO for its commitments in the reduction of emissions from the shipping industry and for the protection and conservation of the environment,” said Rodriguez.
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Source: ACP
