The International Maritime Organization has set what the International Chamber of Shipping describes as an “ambitious” goal of reducing total GHG reductions from shipping by 50% by 2050. In terms of the difficulty of achieving it, the goal is, indeed, ambitious. In terms of having a meaningful impact on slowing global warming, it is seen by many as modest, says an article published on marinelog website.
Existing Ships Will Need Fixes, Too
Among other things, the upcoming MEPC session is expected to endorse an amendment to the MARPOL convention that will require existing ships to meet new Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) regulations that will penalize ships falling short of certain energy efficiency standards. Enforcement is likely to start January 1, 2023.
Speaking as part of a panel at a recent webinar, Sean McLaughlin, Strategy Consultant at Houlder Ltd. noted the “emergence of multiple decarbonization drivers which can present a perplexing maze for shipowners and operators. From charterers looking for more efficient ships and banks seeking to improve the environmental performance of their loan books to the ever-present IMO regulatory targets, shipowners are being forced to act now.”
“DNV estimates that 80% of ships will require some investment to meet EEXI requirements,” said McLaughlin. “However, different measures address different audiences. This means that it is vital that shipowners are clear about which targets they need to meet and ensure that investment is targeted at the most effective solutions.”
Does the Technology Exist?
If you’re talking coastal and short sea shipping, the answer is yes. For ocean going ships, the technology remains in development.
When it comes to oceangoing ships, it looks very much like the propulsion plant of the future will be the internal combustion engine. It’s been said that “you can burn anything in a diesel engine,” and that would certainly seem to apply to the zero-carbon fuels now most under consideration, ammonia and hydrogen.
Both MAN Energy Solutions and Wärtsilä are developing ammonia-fueled engines and BeHydro (a joint venture of shipowner CMB and ABC Engines) has launched a 1MW hydrogen powered four-stroke.
The big problem here is not the tech, it’s the availability of large volumes of green ammonia and green hydrogen, produced using green electricity, and the development of logistics chains to get them into ships.
Rotor Sails
Rotor sails — which just got a major endorsement in the shape of a decision to install five of them on a 325,000 dwt Very Large Ore Carrier (VLOC) new building under construction in China for charter to Brazilian mining giant Vale has been fitted with five Norsepower Oy tilting rotor sails. Tilting the rotor sails, using hydraulic cylinders, will enable efficient cargo operations.
Pan Ocean Ship Management owns the vessel. Norsepower has analyzed the routes for the vessel on its charter to Vale and estimates that the rotor sail technology would be able to achieve an efficiency gain of up to 8% and a consequent reduction of up to 3,400 tons of CO2 per year.
A smaller bulker, an 82,000 dwt Kamsarmax bulk carrier is to be retrofitted with three Anemoi Marine Technologies Ltd. rotor sails, under what is described as “a commercial agreement” signed by Anemoi and TR Lady Shipping Ltd., a portfolio company of Tufton Investment Management Ltd. Bd.
Under the agreement, the CS Marine designed bulker TR Lady, built in 2017 by Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group and managed by Tufton, will be fitted with three large Anemoi rotor sails. TR Lady will be retrofitted with the rotor sails during scheduled drydocking of the vessel.
Summary
- IMO has set what the International Chamber of Shipping describes as an “ambitious” goal of reducing total GHG reductions from shipping by 50% by 2050.
- When it comes to oceangoing ships, it looks very much like the propulsion plant of the future will be the internal combustion engine.
- Rotor sails — which just got a major endorsement in the shape of a decision to install five of them on a 325,000 dwt Very Large Ore Carrier (VLOC) new building under construction in China for charter to Brazilian mining giant Vale has been fitted with five Norsepower Oy tilting rotor sails.
- The big problem here is not the tech, it’s the availability of large volumes of green ammonia and green hydrogen, produced using green electricity.
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Source: marinelog.com
